Ventral Example of Breviphillipsia, A Rare Mississippian Trilobite

Description: A fine ventral example of a member of the Order Proetida, Family Proetidae, this is Breviphillipsia sampsoni. Coming from the Kinderhookian Stage (359-348 m.y.a) deposits of Saline County, Missouri, this trilobite is a member of the last surviving order of trilobites, the Proetida. It is found in these same deposits with another rare trilobite, Comptonaspis swallowi, but has a granulose exoskeleton. The hypostome (anchor for the mouthparts) is readily seen here. See my other examples for a fine dorsal example of this rare taxon.