Trilobite fossil. Fossil of the trilobite Phacops circumspectans, rolled into a ball. The trilobites are an extinct group of marine arthropods with a

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Trilobite fossil. Fossil of the trilobite Phacops circumspectans, rolled into a ball. The trilobites are an extinct group of marine arthropods with a hard, segmented shell that is divided into 3 sections. P. circumspectans occurred all over the world throughout the Silurian and Devonian periods (around 438-360 million years ago). Many trilobites could roll themselves into a ball when threatened. Assuming this position ensured that only the shell was exposed, defending the animal from attack. Most trilobites were bottom dwellers, feeding either on organic sediment or by catching their own prey. Found in Morocco.

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Size: 4355px × 3092px
Photo credit: © SINCLAIR STAMMERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: african, ancient, animal, animals, arthropodan, balled, circumspectans, devonian, extinct, fossil, fossilised, fossils, geology, invertebrate, invertebrates, marine, moroccan, morocco, north, palaeontology, paleontology, phacops, preserved, rock, rolled, segmented, segments, shell, silurian, single, solitary, stone, trilobite, zoology