Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Almost Complete Silurian Trimerus Trilobite



These pictures show an almost complete Trimerus delphinocephalus (Green, 1832) trilobite. It was fossilized intact but was found in two pieces. Some of the last thorax segments and the pygidium (tail) had broken off this specimen. It is still missing part of its feeding/digging scoop and small pieces of segments missing from the rear section of the trilobite. Visually it appears to be about 95% complete.

After some effort, I was able to find the broken off tail section of this trilobite. It was not too damaged and fit  right into place on the original piece found. Whew! I gave an early birthday present to myself. :)

Fossil was found in Clark County, Indiana in the Silurian age Waldron Shale. It has not been cleaned and two parts of it have glued back together. I hope once it has been abrasive cleaned extra matrix and glue will be removed.

Compare it to another Clark County Trimerus trilobite fossil found on the Internet at this web site: Week's trilobite web site.