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.

These specimen are cruziana trilobite track plates from the Anti-Atlas mountain range in Morocco. They date to 358 million years old.

Cruziana are essentially fossil footprints left behind by extinct arthropods, mainly trilobites. They are forms by the unique way trilobites moved about, combination of burrowing and sediment feeding. These tracks act as unique fingerprints for different species of trilobites, allowing paleontologists to speculate on the presence of a given species, even if no direct fossils have been found.

Each cruziana trilobite track plate is a unique item and are sold individually by size. Each ships in a sturdy shipping container along with a certificate of authenticity and a metal display stand. You can find all of our current cruziana specimens in the collection below.

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.

Cruziana are a type of trace fossil left behind by trilobites and some other arthropods. They are fossilized impressions of a trilobite simultaneously burrowing and feeding on sediment, creating a distinct pattern based on impressions left by the creature's limbs. They can be identified by the presence of two straight or slightly curved dug lines, each of them marked by a series of inner scratches. Sometimes these formations will appear alongside each other, allowing insight into how trilobites interacted with their own kind.