Psychopyge
elegans
Trilobites
Order
Phacopida, Superfamily Acastoidea, Family Acastidae
Geological
Time: Uppermost Emsian Stage Early/Middle Devonian Transition
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Trilobite is 60 mm long (overall tip of rostrum to tip
of pygidial spines) by 44 mm wide at genals on a 45 by 70 mm matrix
Fossil Site:
Djebel Issoumour , Morocco
Code: 12135
Price: $2695.00
- sold
Description:
This trilobite is a member of the Order Phacopida, Family Acastidae
from the Devonian deposits of Djebel Issoumour, Morocco known as
Psychopyge elegans (see my other offerings for an example of P.
termierorum with an extremely elongated rostrum). 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 bend to the 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 an elongated
version 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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