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Trilobites are amazing! They are one of the most common fossils in the world. Found in every continent, they are thought to have originated in Siberia. From there they crawled, swam, and evolved their way all over the globe! Today geologists use trilobite fossils to determine the ages of rocks and to judge historic movement of the continents.
Here are ten more fascinating facts about the amazing Trilobite.
The name ‘trilobite ‘means “three lobes”, referring to the three areas, or ridges, that run along the length of their body, splitting it into three parts both longitudinally and axially.
Over 20,000 different species of trilobites have been recorded, making trilobites the most diverse group of extinct animals in the fossil record. These 20,000 different species fit into 10 main types, making it easier for fossil collectors to record their finds.
Trilobites vary massively in size, from less than 1mm to nearly a metre in length. In 1998, a 72cm Trilobite was found by members of the Manitoba Museum and University of Manitoba, fossil hunting on the shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. This Isotelus rex, or “King of the Trilobites” is the largest complete trilobite found to date.
Trilobites were present on Earth for more than 300 million years. This shows just how successful they were at adapting and evolving. In comparison, our ancestors have been around for only six million years, with modern humans only appearing about 200,000 years ago. That means that trilobites were around for more than 50,000 times longer than modern humans have been on the planet!
Trilobites were very good at evolving. Their fossils show they adapted to many different ecological niches. Different species of trilobites evolved to become burrowers, crawlers, swimmers, scavengers, predators, filter feeders and grazers. Some trilobite species even developed a symbiotic relationship with the sulphur-eating bacteria from which they derived their food.
Trilobites were the first animals to develop complex eye structures, with some species having hundreds of individual lenses in each eye. However, trilobites that lived deep under the sea, where no light could reach, did not have, or need eyes. They were completely blind.
All good things come to an end, and around 253 million years ago the last of the trilobites became extinct. They were wiped out by the largest extinction event in our planet’s history, the so-called “Permian-Triassic extinction” or “great dying”, when 90% of all species that walked, crawled, swam, and flew on the earth were suddenly killed.
Despite being so widespread and versatile, there is not a single direct descendant of the trilobite on the Earth today. However, being some of the earliest arthropods to exist, they are distant relatives of modern lobsters, horse-shoe crabs, and spiders.
Like many modern arthropods, trilobites moulted, shedding their exoskeleton as they grew. Many trilobite fossils found today are the remnants of their shed exoskeletons and not the trilobite themselves.
Native Americans used the fossils of trilobites as amulets, to ward off evil spirits. The Pahvant Ute people named trilobites “Timpe-Konitza-Pachuee,” or “little water bug living in a house of stone.” We can’t think of a better name!
Finest Fossils hope you have enjoyed these fascinating facts. We love trilobites and have some amazing examples that you can add to your collection. If you have any questions or want to see further photos of the examples we have for sale, just let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.
