PARADOXIDES TRILOBITE - Anti-Atlas Mountain Range, South Morocco

CAMBRIAN PERIOD:  543 - 510 million years ago

With only 3 - 4 % restoration, one cannot help drool over this incredibly rare and superbly preserved Paradoxides trilobite.  This natural color is the rarest of them all - black with red overtones, and has been only sealed with a clear preservative to stabilize the surface and protect.  There are three major locations in Morocco where Paradoxides are found.  One area is known for its orange specimens, one for the more rare dark brown specimens and one where the rare brownish black specimens are found.  This is one of those black examples and it is a beautiful and exceedingly rare fossil Paradoxides.

This beautiful and giant fossil trilobite has some of the best inflation we have seen with full and high relief in the snout and down the center lobe.  BOTH eyes are 100% genuine which in of itself, is a very rare feature of this species.  Restoration is limited to the edge of the left free cheek, right free cheek and right genal spine along with a few tips of the pleural fringe.  Nearly the entire creature is in a superb state of preservation and genuine.  The surface of the original carapace is a mottled jet black and burnt orange hue.  Again remember, the BLACK Paradoxides is the RAREST of them all and while an unscrupulous source can paint their specimens, we absolutely guarantee that this is indeed, an authentic example of this rare black version.

The vast majority of Paradoxides specimens on the market are either heavily restored or completely fabricated.  This specimen is a true rarity and of a type that is NEVER encountered in the common public market.

A VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED RARE SPECIMEN!!!

16" long x 14" wide with matrix, creature is 13.75" long x 10" wide

SOLD     TR118    INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only