Triarthrus eatoni
Trilobites Order Ptychopariida, Family Olenidae
Arthropoda indet
Geological Time: Late Ordovician
Size: Trilobite is 25 mm long by 12 mm wide with 5 mm antennae; Arthropod: 10 mm long (if straight) with 5 mm antennae and 25 mm telson on a 180 mm by 100 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Lorraine Group, Whetstone Gulf Formation, Lewis County, New York
Code: ARTH01
Price: $9500.00
| Description: With only about a half dozen localities known, trilobites with soft tissue preservation are rare. A well-known site in the United States is Beecher’s Trilobite bed where examples of Triarthrus, Cryptolithus, and Cornuproetus are known. In 2005 a new location in Lewis County was discovered which will take its place in this select group as a site containing Triarthrus eatoni with preserved appendages. These trilobites were buried rapidly, resulting in an anoxic environment which allowed for infilling with fine-grained pyretic deposits that preserved the details seen here. The rich gold color is a striking contrast to the deep black matrix, making for a dramatic specimen available in very limited quantities. This fine example is preserved in ventral aspect with limbs preserved. These trilobites are prepared using a very fine 50 nanometer powder in order to preserve the pyrite. For the last two years at the Tucson Fossil Show the discoverer of this site and preparator of this exceptional specimen had something new to offer: trilobites with preserved eggs. This is the first known instance of preserved eggs of the species, and most likely represents an early stage in the development of the eggs which were formed in the head and subsequently released into the environment. This fine example is seen here in association with an unknown arthropod with an unusually long telson extension, one which apparently was articulated by a ball and socket joint. The distal portion of the abdomen is tucked up against the body and the antennae folded back along the body as well. This is a MOST UNUSUAL association of two stunning specimens on a single plate, one which is sure to become the cornerstone of any collection. Hopefully this arthropod and several others will be described by science in the near future, as they all seem to have yet to be given the attention they deserve.
References:
Geology, 37 (Oct), 2009, pp 907-910.
Geology, 45(3), 2017, pp 199-202. |
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