New Type Koneprusia Moroccan Museum Trilobite

Description: Elegant example of an unusual trilobite which as an Odontopleurid has many fine relatives in Dicranurus, Leonaspis, and Ceratonurus. This one has a plethora of spines, most of which have been painstakingly prepared freestanding, making for a spectacular display piece. To what purpose could such a spiny armament be put? The answer DEFENSE cries out; with fish only recently (geologically speaking) having developed true jaws, any advantage a prey species could evolve would stand it in good stead in the eternal predator/prey arms race. This one is different from the other three described species (Koneprusia brutoni, Koneprusia aboussalamae, and Koneprusia dahmani) in that it upped the spine count by having paired spines on the axial ring. Note also the subspines on the posterior pleural and pygidial spines. Only a literal handful of this as-yet undescribed species have been found. This is the first to come from what was thought to be a played out quarry where Lanceaspis was found. Here is a fine example sure to become a prized member of any collection.

See my other offerings for Koneprusia cf dahmani and Koneprusia brutoni, as well as an unusual Koneprusia with double axial spine rows.