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Huge, 2.2" Cyphaspides Nicoleae From Jorf - Recently Described
This is a huge, 2.2" long specimen of a rare, long-spined Cyphaspides nicoleae from Jorf, Morocco. This is substantially larger than most specimens that are closer to an inch in length. Reportedly they've been finding very few of this species the past couple years, after a layer products quite a few of them several years ago. This species was just described in Sept, 2019 in the paper linked below.
Species of the Devonian aulacopleurid trilobite Cyphaspides from southeastern Morocco
Species of the Devonian aulacopleurid trilobite Cyphaspides from southeastern Morocco
Trilobites are collected from a 15-meter-thick section about 6kilometers northwest of Jorf, Morocco. Unlike many other localities, these rocks do not have distinct deposition layers, but rather are massive. They likely represent a gigantic "mud mound" that formed at the base of a volcanic island due to mud slides. The rock is very silicified, almost like a chert, and can be quite colorful. The actual shells on the trilobites are translucent: the trilobite tends to be the color of the rock it sits on.
Because the rock contains a large amount of silica, it is extremely hard, and preparing trilobites from the site is difficult since the rock does not separate well from the shell. Within the 15-meter section, only about two meters have been heavily collected, so occasionally this site will produce some extremely rare and one-of-a-kind specimens collected in float from the other layers.
A view of the collecting locality northwest of Jorf, Morocco
Collecting trilobites at the Jorf locality in 2015
Because the rock contains a large amount of silica, it is extremely hard, and preparing trilobites from the site is difficult since the rock does not separate well from the shell. Within the 15-meter section, only about two meters have been heavily collected, so occasionally this site will produce some extremely rare and one-of-a-kind specimens collected in float from the other layers.
A view of the collecting locality northwest of Jorf, Morocco
Collecting trilobites at the Jorf locality in 2015
About Trilobites
Trilobites are an extinct class of marine arthropods that thrived for nearly 270 million years, from the early Cambrian to the end of the Permian period (around 521 to 252 million years ago). They are one of the most successful and diverse groups in the history of life, with over 25,000 described species spanning a wide range of sizes, shapes, and ecological niches. Known for their distinctive, segmented exoskeletons, trilobites provide invaluable insights into the evolutionary history of arthropods and the dynamics of ancient marine ecosystems.
Trilobites are an extinct class of marine arthropods that thrived for nearly 270 million years, from the early Cambrian to the end of the Permian period (around 521 to 252 million years ago). They are one of the most successful and diverse groups in the history of life, with over 25,000 described species spanning a wide range of sizes, shapes, and ecological niches. Known for their distinctive, segmented exoskeletons, trilobites provide invaluable insights into the evolutionary history of arthropods and the dynamics of ancient marine ecosystems.
SPECIES
Cyphaspides nicoleae
LOCATION
Jorf, Morocco
FORMATION
Bou Tchrafine Formation
SIZE
2.2" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#86297
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