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.95" Pelagic Trilobite (Cyclopyge) Fossil - Huge Eyes
This is an exceptional .95" long example of an unusual pelagic trilobite (Cyclopyge) from El Kaid Rami, Morocco. Nearly all of the Cyclopyge you see from Morocco are flattened on shale and not 3D like this specimen. Both eyes on this specimen have incredible preservation. There is about 5% shell restoration on this specimen including on a repaired crack through its head and the upper couple segments.
About Cyclopyge
Cyclopyge is a distinctive genus of trilobite known for its oversized, crescent-shaped compound eyes, which give it an almost alien appearance. These eyes, which could cover nearly the entire lateral portion of the cephalon (head), were adapted for life in deep, dimly lit marine environments during the Ordovician period, roughly 470 to 443 million years ago. The large eyes suggest that Cyclopyge may have occupied a pelagic (open water) or low-light benthic habitat, relying on enhanced vision to detect faint movements or bioluminescence in the darkness.
Unlike many trilobites that had a more flattened, bottom-dwelling body plan, Cyclopyge was streamlined, with a relatively small pygidium (tail) and an arched thorax that may have aided in swimming. Fossils of this genus have been found in regions that were once part of the ancient Iapetus Ocean, including parts of modern-day Europe and North Africa. The exaggerated eye morphology of Cyclopyge is a prime example of evolutionary specialization and makes it one of the most visually striking and scientifically intriguing trilobites in the fossil record.
Cyclopyge is a distinctive genus of trilobite known for its oversized, crescent-shaped compound eyes, which give it an almost alien appearance. These eyes, which could cover nearly the entire lateral portion of the cephalon (head), were adapted for life in deep, dimly lit marine environments during the Ordovician period, roughly 470 to 443 million years ago. The large eyes suggest that Cyclopyge may have occupied a pelagic (open water) or low-light benthic habitat, relying on enhanced vision to detect faint movements or bioluminescence in the darkness.
Unlike many trilobites that had a more flattened, bottom-dwelling body plan, Cyclopyge was streamlined, with a relatively small pygidium (tail) and an arched thorax that may have aided in swimming. Fossils of this genus have been found in regions that were once part of the ancient Iapetus Ocean, including parts of modern-day Europe and North Africa. The exaggerated eye morphology of Cyclopyge is a prime example of evolutionary specialization and makes it one of the most visually striking and scientifically intriguing trilobites in the fossil record.
SPECIES
Cyclopyge sibilla
LOCATION
El Kaid Rami, Morocco
FORMATION
Lower Ktaoua Formation
SIZE
Trilobite: .95" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#316655
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