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ULTRA RARE 12 INCH COMPLETE SOFT PART PRESERVATION CONULARIIDA FOSSILS WITH LARGE SELENOPELTIS AND OTHER TRILOBITES ON LARGE ORDOVICIAN PREHISTORIC MARINE LIFE SLAB Ktaoua Formation - South Morocco ORDOVICIAN PERIOD: 488 - 443 million years ago While this is an extremely interesting and aesthetic large fossil slab showing a variety of prehistoric Ordovician marine life fossils, it includes two amazingly well preserved Conulariida fossils that exhibit ULTRA RARE SOFT PART preservation so detailed that this piece possesses an enormous scientific value, as well. Conularia fossils have been known to exist for over 150 years and still, scientists do not know what they are! Many fossils are just impressions of these alien creatures but THIS specimen shows bizarre and rare detail that most other specimens lack. This slab would be an ideal addition to any major public museum wishing to exhibit an extraordinarily well-preserved example of this rare creature. The slab would also make a monumental display piece demonstrating various forms of Ordovician sea life from well over 400 million years ago. This remarkable fossil slab showcases a NATURAL mass death association of a variety of marine creatures. There are 2 Conulariida fossils, a spectacular and large 6 inch Selenopeltis trilobite, another negative impression of another Selenopeltis trilobite but with most of the positive fossil spines attached to the impression, numerous unusually large onnia trilobites and numerous rare spiny-tailed Mucronaspis sp. trilobites, a Dalmanitid-type trilobite. This is a 100% NATURAL ASSOCIATION OF ALL FOSSILS SHOWN ON THIS SLAB. NONE HAVE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY ATTACHED as is common with many kinds of group fossils, especially from Morocco. The Selenopeltis trilobite is a spectacular specimen but the real celebrity of this piece are the two Conulariida fossils, namely, the giant and bizarrely preserved FOOT LONG CONULARIA specimen! This conularia fossil shows rarely seen large pore anatomy and a complete, full inflation coming off the rock. The distinct longitudinal segments are dramatically visible and the entire creature with both ends, is preserved on the rock. Every conularia fossil we have seen from Morocco is nothing more than a faint, painted impression on the rock lacking any detail like this. These fossils on this slab exceed anatomical features and detail we have encountered in any North African specimen. Quite frankly, the anatomy of this fossil is so strange, it would be hard to determine just what creature it is if it were not for the overall prominent 4 longitudinal segments that are known to Conulariids as well as the overall shape and the formation and period of this occurrence. In addition, they are enormous examples of this strange extinct marine animal. From a scientific perspective, this is a true PRIZE specimen that may shed further light on many unanswered questions of just what the conulariida are. Seldom are scientifically important fossils also impressive to the public but this specimen fills the need on both accounts! This is the most impressive and fine example of its kind we have ever come across. Conulariida are a mystery to science to this day. The occurrence of them in the fossil record is not necessarily rare but SOFT TISSUE PRESERVATION as is shown here IS BEYOND RARE. There have been very few instances of soft body tissue preserved compared to the segmented inner structures that are typically found in fossils. These two rare examples shown above exhibit what appear to be a collection of varied size pore openings across the body. The full edge detail is also quite prominent showing what the entire outer body profile looked like when alive. The deep furrow of the inner, longitudinal segments are obvious and dramatic. Being able to see what the outer body structure looked like on these enigmas of science as can be seen in this fossil, just may answer or confirm some of the questions that have baffled scientists for over a century and a half! Conulariids first appeared abruptly in the fossil record in the Middle Cambrian Period and exist into the Triassic. They may represent an entirely extinct phylum but so little is really known about them. The fossils they are found in represent the bottom of off-shore marine environments. Conularia are believed to have been filter feeders attached to substrate on the ocean floor but very few soft tissue fossils exist with most showing the internal calcite segmented structures. A noticeable feature is their longitudinal four-fold segmented body structure. Moroccan craftsman are known to produce some convincing fossil replicas and sell them to unsuspecting brokers and dealers. We operate three preparation labs and have more then enough field and lab experience to tell the difference but most sellers do not. This specimen is guaranteed to be 100% AUTHENTIC WITH NO FABRICATION. The detail of the fossils are evident for genuine specimens. For an equally SCIENTIFICALLY IMPORTANT AND VISUALLY STUNNING exhibition fossil, this one is hard to trump. Very highly recommended and of the finest possible preservation we have ever seen in this type. All fossils are shown as found and on their ORIGINAL host rock slab of very large proportion.
Next to dinosaur fossils, trilobites command a dedicated and passionate following amongst both scientists and fossil collectors, alike. In a relatively short time-frame (scientifically speaking, of course), we have the emergence and subsequent extinction of these fascinating creatures. Still most baffling is the incredible diversity of sizes and features that made up the trilobite group. Many bizarre species co-existed with highly specialized body parts that defy the theories of evolution in their "sudden" emergence and diversity during the Early Cambrian Period in what is known as the 'Cambrian Explosion'. Trilobites were among the world's first arthropods, a phylum of hard-shelled creatures with multiple body segments and jointed legs (although the legs, antennae and other finer structures of trilobites only very rarely are preserved). They constitute an extinct class of arthropods, Trilobita, that is comprised of over 15,000 known species. It has been reported that every year, four to five new species are discovered in the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountain regions in Morocco, alone! This desolate northern fringe of the Sahara Desert was once covered by a prehistoric ocean and its fossil deposits can be considered the world's richest and most diverse source of these ancient sea creatures. Trilobites are the single most diverse group of extinct organisms that ever existed, period! The smallest known trilobite is just three millimeters long, while the largest type grew to a length of 70 centimeters (over two feet long!). The most common fossil of trilobites is the mineralized dorsal exoskeleton of the creature. This is found in partial form from molting (shedding the shell as it grows) or in complete form when the animal was buried and died intact. The soft parts of the underside are rarely preserved. The name 'TRILOBITE' means 'three lobed" and is derived from the fact these animals had bodies featuring three longitudinal lobes, not lateral (head, body, tail) as is often thought. The lateral division of three parts is shared by many arthropods, not just trilobites. Considerable study has been done on trilobites as a whole organism. Even more fascinating though, is the research done on a microscopic level with regards to trilobite morphology. Radiographs have captured incredible detail of complete and fully articulated antennae and underparts like legs and gills, preserved in the host rock of some fossilized specimens. Perhaps the most impressive and classic feature of trilobites that comes to mind is the eyes. Microscopic studies of trilobite eye structures have also revealed marvelous adaptation and very high degrees of specialization in vision. It seems that the more we learn about trilobites, the unfolding of their mystery is stranger than fiction. Certainly we gain a greater appreciation with each new discovery of these strange and highly advanced but now extinct 'butterflies of the ancient seas'. ULTRA RARE COMPLETE SOFT TISSUE PRESERVATION, GIANT SIZE, COMPLETE OUTER ANATOMY CONULARIIDA FOSSILS WITH CHOICE SELENOPELTIS AND OTHER SPINY TRILOBITES ON GIANT ORDOVICIAN MARINE LIFE SLAB - A TRUE MUSEUM PIECE! 29.5" x 21" overall with matrix, largest conularia is 12" long, selenopeltis trilobite is 6" long $12500 CON001 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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