Kettneraspis prescheri Trilobite Prepared Freestanding

Description: Elegant example of an unusual trilobite which has recently become available. I saw my first example just over 10 years ago at the Tucson show and called it a “stovepipe” due to the robust occipital spine only found in this species. While some prefer Kettnersapis over Leonaspis based upon the pygidial spines, it is definitely a new species, one that has curried great favor among the collectors of the world. This trilobite has a blend of features of both genera. While the authors placed it within Kettneraspis, they attached a question mark to designate its combined features. This one took several days to prepare all the spines free of matrix, and effort I am sure you will agree was well worth it to obtain such a dramatic display specimen. It is quite large for the type, and the first I have been able to obtain prepared in this dramatic fashion.

Reference: Geologica Belgica, 2015, 18/1, pp 15-20