#olenellid

[earthstory]

goldbugsofficial

Freshly split Lower Cambrian Olenellid trilobite, Eofallotaspis. Lots of sweat and sun scorching to get these rare trilobites in Nevada!

[earthstory]

goldbugsofficial

A rare Lower Cambrian Elliptocephala trilobite from Nevada, USA. At about 520 million years old this delicate spiny Olenellid trilobite was one of the first dominant animals on the planet.

[eclecticirony]

Nephrolenellus geniculatus Olenellid Trilobite from Pioche Shale

This is a beautiful late lower Cambrian trilobite from the family Olenellidae, members of which were almost entirely limited to a particular zonal layer in what was the former continent of Laurentia.  Laurentia today is the North American Craton that is depicted in orange-brown in the lower picture. Laurentia before becoming independent for the last 600 million years, is theorized to have been parts of ancient supercontinents Pannotia and Rodinia, as well as others in Earth’s deep time. The ollenellids are treasured by collectors for their elegant if primitive appearance.

Name: Nephrolenellus geniculatus Trilobite Order Redlichiida, Suborder Olenellina, Superfamily Olenelloidea, Family Olenellidae Fossil Site: Pioche Shale Formation, C- Shale, Combined Metals Member, Lincoln County, Nevada Geologic Time: Lower Cambrian Size: 16 mm long

Image from: Trilobites Family Album