Calymene Trilobite Fossil Morocco – Upper Ordovician Fossil

This Calymene Trilobite Fossil is a well-preserved specimen with a broad body, prominent head and numerous clearly defined segments extending towards the tail. The raised central sections and contrasting fossilised surfaces give the trilobite a strong three-dimensional form, while the natural matrix surrounding parts of the specimen adds to its geological character. The overall shape makes the distinctive anatomy of this ancient marine arthropod easy to appreciate.

Specimen Details

✓ SPECIMEN: Calymene Trilobite Fossil
✓ SPECIES: Colpocoryphe sp.
✓ AGE: Upper Ordovician, approximately 445 million years old
✓ FORMATION: Ktaoua Group
✓ LOCATION: Jebel Tiskouine, Anti-Atlas Region, Morocco
✓ SIZE: 40mm × 64mm × 24mm
✓ WEIGHT: 69 grams
✓ CONDITION: No repairs

The Story Behind the Fossil

Trilobites were ancient marine arthropods that lived in Earth's oceans for more than 250 million years. They first appeared during the Cambrian Period, around 520 million years ago, and evolved into thousands of different species. Their bodies were divided into three main sections — the head, segmented middle section and tail — and protected by a hard outer skeleton. This distinctive body structure is one of the reasons trilobites are so recognisable in the fossil record and remain popular with fossil collectors today.

The trilobite represented by this specimen, Colpocoryphe sp., lived during the Upper Ordovician, roughly 445 million years ago. At that time, the area that is now Morocco was part of an ancient marine environment. Trilobites lived on and around the seafloor, where they crawled, burrowed through sediment and searched for food. Their diets varied between species and could include organic material, small organisms and decaying matter.

The fossil-bearing rocks around Jebel Tiskouine belong to the Ktaoua Group and preserve evidence of these ancient marine environments. After a trilobite died, its remains could settle on the seafloor and become buried by layers of sediment. Over immense periods of time, these sediments hardened into rock and the remains became fossilised. Later geological uplift and erosion exposed the fossil-bearing rocks of the Anti-Atlas Region. Trilobites survived through major changes in Earth's oceans before finally disappearing during the end-Permian mass extinction approximately 252 million years ago.

Add a Piece of Prehistoric History to Your Collection

This Calymene Trilobite Fossil offers a fascinating connection to life in an ancient ocean hundreds of millions of years ago. With its clearly visible segmentation and three-dimensional form, it makes an engaging addition to a fossil collection, curiosity cabinet or natural history display — and a memorable gift for a budding fossil enthusiast.