Morocops, Cyphaspis & Gerastos Trilobite Cluster - Mrakib, Morocco

This is a really cool cluster of eighteen trilobites (3 species) quarried near Mrakib, Morocco. The two largest trilobites are Morocops (formerly Barrandeops). While common at many locations they are unusual to find in association with the other two trilobites. There are two complete, "Devil Horned", Cyphaspis walteri trilobites, along with two partials. Then there are twelve Gerastos trilobites, about half preserved ventrally.

The entire rock measures 7.4 x 4.2". There is only a few small spots of shell restoration, maybe 1% in total.

Trilobites were a very diverse group of extinct marine arthropods. They first appeared in the fossil record in the Early Cambrian (521 million years ago) and went extinct during the Permian mass extinction (250 million years ago). They were one of the most successful of the early animals on our planet: over 25,000 species have been described, filling nearly every evolutionary niche. Due in large part to their hard exoskeletons (shells), they left an excellent fossil record.

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