Psychopyge
termierorum
Trilobites
Order
Phacopida, Superfamily Acastoidea, Family Acastidae
Geological
Time: Middle Devonian
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Trilobite is 115 mm long (overall tip of rostrum to tip
of pygidial spine) by 48 mm wide at genals. Rostrum: 45 mm long on
a 125 by 50 mm matrix
Fossil Site:
Oufaten , Morocco
Code: 12106
Price: Sold
Description:
This trilobite is a member of the Order Phacopida, Family Acastidae
from the Devonian deposits of Oufaten, Morocco known as Psychopyge
termieroum (see my other offerings for an example of P. elegans).
ALL spines have been prepared freestanding on the cephalon as well
as those on the axial, and pleural lobes, as well as the pygidial
spines making for a dramatic display with OVER EIGHTY freestanding
spines. What is most unusual about this one is the extremely long
rostrum. For some reason Pyschopyge had a tendency to pathology
of this feature. I have seen one foreshortened, another twice as
wide as normal giving the appearance of a duck’s bill, and
one other elongated version such as thisone which is fully the
length of the body. The
supplier of this specimen is known personally to me, and I have
no doubts as to its authenticity. With the advent of a reliable
source of electricity in Morocco, the quality of preparation has
improved dramatically over the past few years. This one took a
great deal of effort to prepare all the pleural spines free of
matrix. While I used to refer to trilobites prepared in a mode
similar to this as flying, I feel a new term is warranted by the
preparation now coming into vogue. This specimen is truly stunning
when viewed from any aspect, and is destined to become the cornerstone
of any collection, public or private. (I apologize for the less-than-esthetic
photography while still in the shipping container, but discretion
was the better part of valor with all the spines). |
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