Lot 1755
Three Different Trilobites and A Nautiloid. Trilobites were one of the first animals to develop eyes, more than 500 million years ago. They then became one of the most successful animals in the ocean until becoming extinct 250 million years ago. Partial pieces of the hardened shell of these early relatives of insects and horseshoe crabs are common, but complete detailed specimens are not.
Some of the most life-like and spectacular of trilobites come from the 450 million year old Wolchow River Basin southwest of St. Petersburg, Russia. This extraordinary limestone block contains three complete, lovely, light-brown trilobites, as well as a 5 in. Nautiloid, an early relative of the still-existing Chambered Nautilus. The most fascinating trilobite is the 2 in. long Neoasaphis kavalewski with its 1 in. long eyestalks resembling some strange kind of alien life form. Also present is a 2½ in. long Subasaphus platyurus, which has shorter eyestalks and wing-like long genal spines extending down both sides of its body. Last is a "plain" 2½ in. Asaphus with smaller eyes and no spines. All four fossils are attractively displayed on a 10½ x 9 in. limestone rock that entombed them for over 450 million years.
Estimated Value $850 - 1,250.
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| Realized $633 |
