Large, 3.2" Morocconites Trilobite - Ofaten, Morocco

Here is an nice, large specimen of one of the more unusual species of trilobites. It is Morocconites malladoides quarried from the deposits near Ofaten, Morocco. This member of the Phacopida trilobites and has a very defining feature, a long pointed rostrum (snout) coming off of it's head. It's unclear what purpose this rostrum would have served, but it could have potentially been used to help it dig through the mud.

The specimen is 3.2" long which is quite large for the species with excellent shell quality and eye facet preservation. There is only a tiny bit of shell restoration along the repaired "discovery crack" running up the right hand side of the thorax where the trilobite was found in cross section.