Symphysops subarmatus
Vendor: Fossil Soup
SKU Number: SQ6618226
A beautiful example of Symphysops subarmatus from the Middle to Upper Ordovician (Lower Ktaoua Fromation) Cyclpygid trilobite from El Kaid Errami, Morocco.
The name Symphysops is a reference to the fused eyes that are common to this genus. This specimen is probably one of the finest examples of this species available on the market at this time. It has been expertly prepared from the hard encasing rock and has an orange-brown hue that contrasts well against the grey color of the rock. It is complete except for some minor restoration work to the rostral spine at the front of the glabella.
What makes this example more sought after is the completeness of the large eyes that meet at the front of the head-shield to form what looks like a “visor”. Some of the 5000, or so, individual lenses are clearly visible for sections of the “visor” and make this a strange and unusual trilobite.
Symphysops is not found together with well-sighted benthic (bottom dwelling) trilobite species but does occur with blind or nearly blind benthic trilobites, a typical adaptation to an environment starved of light. It is thought to have been pelagic (free swimming) and probably occupied the dark waters of the oceans at around 200 meters. This specimen was prepared in Morocco using pneumatic tools and many hours of work under a microscope. Although there are no signs that the rock has been split and glued back together - the usual process that follows the discovery of trilobites in Morocco - we do not see evidence of fabrication other than the minor work on the rostral spine.
This fossil comes in the usual hard plastic container and is screwed to the base of the container by a fixture on the underside of the rock. This is the usual method for these delicate fossils. We ship these fossils well wrapped in bubble wrap and in larger padded boxes to ensure protection during transport. Rest assured that your purchase will arrive in perfect condition or we will offer a complete refund.
Full dimensions are listed below.
Vendor: Fossil Soup
SKU Number: SQ6618226
A beautiful example of Symphysops subarmatus from the Middle to Upper Ordovician (Lower Ktaoua Fromation) Cyclpygid trilobite from El Kaid Errami, Morocco.
The name Symphysops is a reference to the fused eyes that are common to this genus. This specimen is probably one of the finest examples of this species available on the market at this time. It has been expertly prepared from the hard encasing rock and has an orange-brown hue that contrasts well against the grey color of the rock. It is complete except for some minor restoration work to the rostral spine at the front of the glabella.
What makes this example more sought after is the completeness of the large eyes that meet at the front of the head-shield to form what looks like a “visor”. Some of the 5000, or so, individual lenses are clearly visible for sections of the “visor” and make this a strange and unusual trilobite.
Symphysops is not found together with well-sighted benthic (bottom dwelling) trilobite species but does occur with blind or nearly blind benthic trilobites, a typical adaptation to an environment starved of light. It is thought to have been pelagic (free swimming) and probably occupied the dark waters of the oceans at around 200 meters. This specimen was prepared in Morocco using pneumatic tools and many hours of work under a microscope. Although there are no signs that the rock has been split and glued back together - the usual process that follows the discovery of trilobites in Morocco - we do not see evidence of fabrication other than the minor work on the rostral spine.
This fossil comes in the usual hard plastic container and is screwed to the base of the container by a fixture on the underside of the rock. This is the usual method for these delicate fossils. We ship these fossils well wrapped in bubble wrap and in larger padded boxes to ensure protection during transport. Rest assured that your purchase will arrive in perfect condition or we will offer a complete refund.
Full dimensions are listed below.
Vendor: Fossil Soup
SKU Number: SQ6618226
A beautiful example of Symphysops subarmatus from the Middle to Upper Ordovician (Lower Ktaoua Fromation) Cyclpygid trilobite from El Kaid Errami, Morocco.
The name Symphysops is a reference to the fused eyes that are common to this genus. This specimen is probably one of the finest examples of this species available on the market at this time. It has been expertly prepared from the hard encasing rock and has an orange-brown hue that contrasts well against the grey color of the rock. It is complete except for some minor restoration work to the rostral spine at the front of the glabella.
What makes this example more sought after is the completeness of the large eyes that meet at the front of the head-shield to form what looks like a “visor”. Some of the 5000, or so, individual lenses are clearly visible for sections of the “visor” and make this a strange and unusual trilobite.
Symphysops is not found together with well-sighted benthic (bottom dwelling) trilobite species but does occur with blind or nearly blind benthic trilobites, a typical adaptation to an environment starved of light. It is thought to have been pelagic (free swimming) and probably occupied the dark waters of the oceans at around 200 meters. This specimen was prepared in Morocco using pneumatic tools and many hours of work under a microscope. Although there are no signs that the rock has been split and glued back together - the usual process that follows the discovery of trilobites in Morocco - we do not see evidence of fabrication other than the minor work on the rostral spine.
This fossil comes in the usual hard plastic container and is screwed to the base of the container by a fixture on the underside of the rock. This is the usual method for these delicate fossils. We ship these fossils well wrapped in bubble wrap and in larger padded boxes to ensure protection during transport. Rest assured that your purchase will arrive in perfect condition or we will offer a complete refund.
Full dimensions are listed below.
Additional Information
Symphysops has features typically associated with a pelagic lifestyle, among which very large eyes, compact thorax and indications of strong musculature. In some later cyclopygids, progressive enlargement resulted in the anterior fusion of their eyes. Given the weight of the dorsal exoskeleton, it is likely cyclopygids swam upside down, not unlike some extant crustaceans with pelagic lifestyles.
Symphysops is characterized by large eyes that merge at the front of the headshield (or cephalon) to form what looks like a visor, with at the back a wide free cheek. The remainder of the cephalon is filled by the glabella, which in most species extends into a forward pointing thorn at its frontal tip.
