Line of Five Trilobites (Foulonia & Asaphellus) - Fezouata Formation

This is a line of five trilobites from the Fezouata Formation of Morocco. There are three well-preserved Foulonia trilobites in a row with two Asaphellus trilobites. One of these Asaphellus trilobites is a partial, and there is a ventrally preserved Asaphellus cephalon and an underlying Foulonia trilobite on the plate as well.

Trilobites from this locality are often found in lines, which has sometimes been interpreted as fossilized migratory behavior. We tend to think it's more likely the orientation is due to currents sweeping the trilobites into wave depressions in the ocean floor. A paper was published a couple years back, describing similar fossils from this same locality.

480-million-year-old trilobite ‘traffic jams’ may reveal ancient migratory behavior

The entire piece measures 15.5 x 8" and the complete trilobites are between 2.3" and 2.85" in length. Preparation is very good and there is about 1% restoration along a repaired crack. It comes with a display stand.