What is known about these trilobites

These are the most anatomically complete examples of Cambrian trilobites ever found. The intact fossils, dating to the Cambrian period (541-485 million years ago), were found beneath layers of volcanic ash from the Cambrian Tatelt Formation in Morocco in 2015. It is a volcanic tomb even preserved the soft tissues of animalsIt reveals anatomical features never seen before.

These new specimens preserved not only the antennae and walking legs, but also the mouth structures and even the entire digestive system in a three-dimensional image.
– said paleontologist John Patterson of the University of New England.

To study the extinct arthropods, scientists used X-ray microtomography, an imaging technique that lets you see the inside of an object piece by piece, to create a virtual 3D model that captures “the animals’ finest details, including their outer surfaces, every part of their body, their legs, and even the hairy structures along their appendages.”

Microtomographic reconstruction of the trilobite Gigoutella mauretanica / Photo: A. El Albani, University of Poitiers

Scientists have been able to achieve exceptional preservation and high-quality 3D images Observe never-before-seen parts of trilobitesfor example, the mouth structures of Protolenus (Hupeolenus) sp., including “a fleshy lobe covering the mouth, called the labrum, documented for the first time in trilobites.”

3D reconstruction of Protolenus (Hupeolenus) sp. Transparency showing segmentation of the digestive system (blue color) / Photo: Arnaud Mazurier | University of Poitiers

Trilobites were preserved in very good condition for half a billion years due to volcanic ash from an ancient eruption; this buried the creatures in the same way Pompeii was preserved after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Because volcanic ash is so fine-grained, like talc, it can form the smallest anatomical features on the outer surface of these animals, down to the hairs on their paws.
– says John Paterson.

Combined with rapid burial, this allowed for the preservation of astonishing three-dimensional detail of these trilobites.

3D reconstructions of Protolenus (Hupeolenus) and Gigoutella mauretanica / Photo: A. El Albani, University of Poitiers

Volcanic ash also helped preserve animal gutsAccording to the research, the unfortunate trilobite probably ingested ash from the water before it died, which stopped the destruction of soft tissues.

Trilobite fossils are found all over the world and are easily recognized by their segmented bodies consisting of a hard exoskeleton. This hard outer covering is often well preserved in fossils, allowing scientists to identify it. 22,000 species of trilobitesIt covers 298 million years of the Paleozoic era.