Trilobites exemplify the diverse nature of prehistoric aquatic life. This class of arthropods formed a staggering amount of different species throughout the Cambrian period. Today, over 5,000 different genera of trilobites have been discovered and named, with more surely waiting to be discovered.

This specimen is a Drotops megalomanicus, a type of trilobite with specialized eyes made of calcite lenses. The physical eyes that the creature used millions of years ago can still be seen on this specimen, an extreme rarity compared to other fossilized animals.

Drotops trilobite fossils of this size and quality are quite rare and we're excited to be able to offer this specimen for your colleciton!

Trilobites were a common sight on the ocean floor for millions of years. Their adaptability and varied lifestyles helped them survive across multiple environments and niches.

This particular fossil comes from Morocco and is dated to around 390 million years old. It is one of several large trilobite specimens we have currently available and each ships in a sturdy shipping container along with a certificate of authenticity.

Each trilobite fossil is a unique item and are sold individually by size. Smaller display case specimens are also available. You can find all of our current trilobites in the collection below.

"We are beginning to understand how a group of animals sometimes regarded as ‘primitive’ were actually sophisticated and varied. Had it not been for the Permian extinction event they might be with us still." ~ Richard Fortey, paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London.

Oceans cover about three quarters of our planet, but much of them remain unexplored and unknown to us. It is here in this mysterious environment that life on Earth first began. Forms were simple at first, with plant life and multicellar organisms only just emerging in complexity.

Then, 540,000,000 years ago, the ocean was host to an incredible event that would change the course of evolution forever: the Cambrian Explosion. This massive acceleration of diverse life gave way to the swift radiation of new species and unique evolutionary traits. One creature that exemplified this principle of change so clearly was the trilobite.

This class of arthropods formed a staggering amount of different species throughout the Cambrian period. While all species shared some common aspects, each would evolve unique adaptations that set them apart. Today, over 5000 different genera of trilobites have been discovered and named, with more surely waiting to be discovered.

The common structure that all trilobites share is rather simple. They had a hard exoskeleton composed of three lobes: left, right, and center. Their bodies are also segmented into a cephalon (head), thorax (body), and pygidium (tail). From this base, trilobites evolved into a myriad of strange and unique forms. Some specimens have even been discovered with fossilized soft tissues such as legs, gills, and antennae, giving us a clearer picture of the trilobite’s form in life.

Despite certain commonalities, trilobite species were as varied as could be. Spiny exteriors were a common adaptation and were used by some species to ward off predators while others developed spines as a hunting tool. Compound eyes were found in many species, with some having enormous oculars giving them nearly 360-degree vision. Specialized exoskeleton articulation even allowed them to roll into a ball. Trilobites varied in size as well, from a mere tenth of an inch long to the massive 28-inch Isotelus rex.

Trilobites had an incredibly diverse amount of lifestyles to match their many variations in form. Fossils have been discovered in areas that would have been shallow basins of saltwater as well as the floors of ancient trenches. Ocean floor scavengers, predators, filter feeders, swarming schools, and even open water swimmers have all been suggested modes of survival of different groups. There is even evidence some species made short trips onto dry land.

This specimen is a genus of trilobite known as Drotops. Like other members of its class, it boasted a three-lobed symmetry and a hard silicate exoskeleton. Drotops, however, were quite large and often covered in small bumps over their exoskeleton. They also had eyes on either side of their head to see. Unlike the fleshy eyeballs we might think of though, these creatures had lenses made of hard calcite. While this restricted their flexibity, the calcite was fantastic for fossilization, which means we can still see them today.

Not all trilobites had eyes, but those that did usually fell into one of two categories. There are holochroal eyes that the majority of trilobites with eyes display, and then there are schizochroal eyes that appear with Drotops. Both types are compound eyes, meaning they are made up of many different corneas and lenses. 

Holochroal eyes had about fifteen thousand lenses covered by a single cornea, while schizochroal eyes had half the number of lenses, but these lenses were much bigger and each had its own cornea. This enhanced eyesight allowed Drotops to evade predation, also aided by their natural camouflage and ability to coil into a tight ball through volvation, like a pillbug insect.

Drotops’ specialization within trilobites is demonstrative of the variation and diversity found within the Cambrian explosion. Trilobite fossils are found all over the world, marking the spaces that once held ancient marine life.

Being widespread through the Cambrian period, they serve as excellent stratigraphic markers and help to date other rocks and specimens found near them. Thanks to this, they are a welcome sight for a paleontologist looking to reconstruct the timeline of a fossil site.