Erbenochile Moroccan Museum Trilobite

From New Location

Erbenochile aff erbeni

Trilobites Order Phacopida, Suborder Phacopina, Superfamily Acastoidea, Family Acastidae

Geological Time: Lower Devonian, Upper Emsian

Size: Trilobite is 60 mm long by 50 mm wide on a 75 by 110 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Jebel Oudriss, Morocco

Code: 18128

Price: $1995.00


ErbenochileDescription: Elegant example of a member of the Order Phacopida, Superfamily Acastoidea with many fine details present. Once known in the trade as “Big Eye”, this one is actually Erbenochile, and has recently become commercially available in limited quantities. The most diagnostic features of this taxon are the high “eye-towers”. Fortey and Chatterton described Erbenochile Moroccan Museum TrilobiteErbenochile erbeni in September 2003 from a single commercially- prepared specimen, and it created a stampede among collectors. The “wrap around” eyes gave a good panoramic view of the trilobite’s environment, allowing it to keep alert for predator and prey alike. Since fish had recently evolved true jaws, any advantage a prey species could derive would place it at an advantage. This one has been prepared with the genal and axial spines all freestanding, quite an achievement from such hard matrix. Note the exceptional eye facets seen here, a feature that is difficult to prepare well due to the matrix. About 10 years ago a second species Erbenochile issoumourensis was described from Jebel Issoumour with the main differences being a lower eye tower and lack of a sunshade. Early last year a third site at Jebel Oudriss turned up a very few examples that while they looked like E erbeni they had much more dramatic spinose tubercles to the genals and thoracic segments. There is a progression in the robust nature of these elements, being smallest in E issoumourensis and greatest in the Jebel Oudriss material. I have included some in preparation photos that demonstrate the spines are authentic to the specimen, At this point it is not certain whether this material constitutes a new species or not. I will play it safe and simply refer to it as Erbenochile affinis erbeni for the time being.

A specimen of the very rare Erbenochile issomourensis may be seen here, and here is another Erbenochile erbeni specimen.

Fossils Purchase Information

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Trilobite in preparation:


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