Large Enrolled Drotops Trilobite - 5.5" Around

Large Enrolled Drotops Trilobite - Around #7810

This is a large, enrolled specimen of the trilobite Drotops megalomanicus. It's 2.65 inches wide and over 5 1/2 inches long, around the curve. It has been prepared so that is rests on a free-standing pedestal of matrix. The detail and preparation work on this specimen is very nice. All of the surface detail including the bumps covering it's head and tail and many eye facets can easily be seen.

There is some shell restoration on this specimen (<5%). Mostly patches on the upper thorax and axis where the shell was damaged during collection.

One of the most striking features of this trilobites is the large schizochroal (multi-faceted) eyes which would have given it a nearly 360 degree field of vision. It also has a very bumpy exoskeleton, in particularly on it's head.

A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco showing the hard limestone layers being worked.

A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco. The quarry following the horizon where this trilobites are found extends several kilometers around the mountain.

How a Drotops might be found in the field, with part of the tail exposed in the broken rock. It would then be prepared using airscribes and air abrasives a process that would likely take 20+ hours for a good specimen..

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