What they are supposed to look like.....

[ohio]

Most of us have seen the painted, hacked up examples of Moroccan trilobites online and at shows. This example is a super showey Walliserops trifurcatus. It was prepared the right way by a friend of mine in his lab. The trident is real folks. They are so thin that often times they are not preserved but, that was not the case with this one.

Anybody want to take a guess at what would have caused this animal to evolve such a bizarre anterior process? In other words.......that big damn fork on its head!

Chuck

[Solius Symbiosus]

Anybody want to take a guess at what would have caused this animal to evolve such a bizarre anterior process?

While there isn't a consensus, and since it was very spiny, most think it was defensive. While not as bizarre as the anterior structure, I find the development of schizochroal eyes in the phacopids very intriguing.

Nice prep work your friend does!

[Sundancer]

That's an Amazing Walliserops and absolutely outstanding prep work!

~Mike

[ohio]

Thanks for the nice comments all.

SS- I will pass the comment on to my friend.

Chuck

[DeAnn]

absolutely superb !!

[LanceHall]

OMG!

[naturegirl]

I know nothing about this, but I love looking at this guy I can only imagine the effort to prepare this. work of art!

[ohio]

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone.

Chuck

[Worthy55]

That is one sweet lookin bug! 8) 8) 8)

[ohio]

Worthy, thanks for the nice comment. HH

Chuck