Cute Little Walliserops Hammi Trilobite - Short Trident

This is a nicely prepared specimen of the spiny trilobite Walliserops hammi, often referred to at the "short trident" Walliserops. Walliserops hammi was typically much smaller than the long-forked Walliserops trifurcatus (found in the same layers) and this cute little guy is no exception at 1.5" long. It took a very skilled preparator many hours to do the work on this specimen, with the trident-shaped projection and many spines prepared free-standing. There is no restoration on this specimen, all of the spines are real.

There is some speculation that the long and short forked species may actually just represent sexual dimorphism within the type of trilobite.

About Walliserops

The trilobite genus Walliserops is one of the most visually striking and iconic trilobites known, famous for its elaborate cranidial (head) ornamentation. These Devonian-aged trilobites lived approximately 390 million years ago and are found exclusively in the marine limestones of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco, particularly near Foum Zguid,

Walliserops belongs to the order Phacopida and the family Acastidae. It is best known for the distinctive trident-like projection extending from the front of its glabella (the central lobe of the head), a feature unmatched in any other trilobite. The function of this bizarre structure is still debated; some paleontologists suggest it may have played a role in mate recognition, species display, or even combat, akin to a rhinoceros horn. In addition to the trident, Walliserops trilobites often display long, curved genal spines and elaborately spined thoraxes, enhancing their alien-like appearance.

There are several described species within the genus, including Walliserops trifurcatus, W. hammii, and W. tridens, which differ slightly in the length, curvature, and orientation of the trident and other spines. These trilobites are highly sought after by collectors and researchers alike, both for their aesthetic appeal and the evolutionary questions they raise about morphological development and behavior in ancient arthropods.

Due to the complexity of their anatomy and the challenges of preparing specimens from hard limestone matrix, well-preserved Walliserops fossils require meticulous preparation, and many of the finest examples are partially or fully freed from the rock to showcase their dramatic three-dimensional form.

A photo of the quarry at Foum Zguid. The Walliserops come out of the very bottom layer, which requires 1-2 meters of limestone overburden to be removed.

More About Trilobites