Scabriscutellum lahceni
Trilobites Order Corynexochida, Family Styginidae
Geological Time: Early Devonian, Upper Emsian Stage (~ 390 million years ago)
Size: Trilobite is 31 mm long (curve measure) and 24 mm wide on a 62 mm by 50 mm matrix base
Fossil Site: Timrhanrhart Formation, Jebel Gara el Ziguilma, Foum Ziguid , Morocco
Code: 16107
Price: Sold
 Description:
This trilobite is a member of the Order Corynexochida, Family Styginidae
known as Scabriscutellum lahceni. It is distinguished from all
other related trilobites by the robust axial spines seen here in
this fine example. Once the trilobite was enrolled these spines
would have made an effective defense against would be predators.
Unfortunately that type of defense seems to have not been of much
help to this subadult example. Notice the left side of the pygidium
which has several deformities. The distalmost pleural spines on
the left side are foreshortened, and the ribbing on the left half
of the pygidium is twisted clockwise from the central rib, with
some missing altogether, as is part of the base of the pygidium
as well. Some healing had taken place subsequent to the demise
of this one, but the injuries it received beyond a doubt were a
contributing factor to its death. While a portion of the underlying
matrix was not cleaned away to preserve details, neither microscopic
nor UV examination has shown any evidence of compositing. Reference: Palaeontograhica Canadiana, No 25, 2006, pp 54-56, 162-164 |
