Kolihapeltis rabatensis trilobite from Morocco

This guy is my new favorite trilobite in my collection. It's Kolihapeltis rabatensis from the Ihandar formation, Kolihapeltis couche (Devonian, Pragian stage)), Jebel Oufatene, Alnif, Morocco. It's a very ornate trilobite that is about three inches (8cm) long. The features that stand out the most are the three long spines that arc over the thorax and originate from each eye and the rear of the glabella. The spines are very delicate and a lot of work has gone into preparing this specimen.The other notable feature is the pygidium which is an oval shaped "shield" that nestles among the spines from the thorax. The presence of this distinctively shaped body part places the trilobite into the Styginidae family which ranks it among similar, and better known, members like Scutellum, Paralejurus and Bumastus. This will be the first member of that Family in my collection.

Here is a detail of the pygidium "shield" of the trilobite. Note the faint lines that parallel the edge of the shell. When you see details like this it is good evidence that the trilobite is authentic and not carved or otherwise faked.

More gorgeous details on the cephalon and one of the eye spines. The layered look of the shell on the spine looks similar to that of a human hair as viewed in a Scanning Electron Microscope. The pebbled surface of the cephalon and tiny eye lenses also speak to the expertise that went into preparing the specimen. You can see where the spine broke during preparation and was glued back together. Considering how delicate they are this is not unexpected.