Trilobite Fossils

Trilobites were highly successful sea creatures that appeared over 500 million years ago during the Cambrian Period.  Their fossils have been found globally, and many come from Morocco.  They belonged to a group of hard-shelled invertebrates called arthropods, which includes modern crustaceans, arachnids, insects, and horseshoe crabs. Trilobites evolved into over 15,000  species, making them the most diverse extinct animals ever found.  They ranged from under an inch to almost three feet in length.  Many trilobites had advanced calcite crystal eyes made up of multiple lenses.  The last trilobites died out about 250 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period, when volcanic activity killed about 95% of species.  After this mass extinction, the dinosaurs appeared.
Text by Curtis Sarkin.

Click the image above for a clear view of a trilobite's complex eyes, which are made of multifaceted calcite crystals.

For more information about trilobites, scroll down and watch our Rock Talk videos. 

All the trilobites pictured are from Morocco and date back over 300 million years to the Devonian Period.
Photos by Curtis Sarkin.

Village Silversmith manager John Bajoras interviews a Moroccan fossil dealer.

Filmed by Sara Bajoras.