Flexicalymene ouzregui Trilobite Fossil Specimen Morocco

This Flexicalymene ouzregui trilobite is preserved within a substantial piece of Moroccan sedimentary rock, with the segmented exoskeleton clearly visible against the surrounding matrix. The exposed trilobite provides a compact example of the calymenid trilobites found in Morocco's famous Ordovician fossil beds.

The specimen is relatively small but retains good definition across the cephalon and thoracic segments. Its Moroccan provenance is consistent with F. ouzregui, which is documented from the Ktaoua Formation of the Anti-Atlas. The exact locality of this individual has not been confirmed, so Jbel Tiskaouine and the Upper Ktaoua Formation should be regarded as probable rather than definitive provenance.

Specimen Details

✓ Species: Flexicalymene ouzregui
✓ Family: Calymenidae
✓ Age: Approximately 445–453 million years old (Upper Ordovician, Katian)
✓ Origin: Morocco
✓ Probable Formation: Upper Ktaoua Formation
✓ Probable Locality: Jbel Tiskaouine, Alnif region
✓ Trilobite Size: 19mm × 10mm
✓ Plate Size: 97mm × 79mm × 20mm
✓ Weight: 237g
✓ Fossil Type: Trilobite preserved on matrix
✓ Condition: See photographs for specimen and matrix condition - No repairs

The Story Behind the Fossil

Trilobites were marine arthropods that lived in Earth's oceans for more than 250 million years. Their segmented exoskeletons make them among the most recognisable fossils, while their diversity and relatively rapid evolutionary changes make them important fossils for studying ancient marine environments.

Flexicalymene ouzregui belongs to the family Calymenidae and is an Upper Ordovician trilobite associated with the fossil-rich rocks of Morocco's Anti-Atlas. Published records place the species within the Ktaoua Formation, while geological collections also document Moroccan F. ouzregui specimens from the Ordovician Ktaoua Formation. 

The Jbel Tiskaouine area near Alnif is particularly well known for Moroccan Ordovician trilobites. Flexicalymene is abundant in the fossil-bearing beds of the area, occurring alongside other calymenid genera including Colpocoryphe. These fossils preserve evidence of marine ecosystems that existed in the region during the Late Ordovician.