Trilobites

See More Images
(74 total)

Olenellus fremonti
Olenellus fremonti
© 2004 UCMP

Bathyuriscus
Bathyuriscus
© 2003 Roland Gangloff, University of Alaska Museum

Isotelus maximus
Isotelus maximus
© 1906 public domain

What are Trilobites? Trilobites are perhaps the most famous and easily recognized fossil invertebrate group. The name comes from the length wise division of the body into three lobes—two side (pleural) lobes separated by one central (axial) lobe. All trilobites had antennae and legs with two branches, one used for locomotion and the other for respiration. Some had compound eyes, like a modern fly. Trilobites were strictly marine animals, but they were very diverse, living in both shallow and deep waters.

First known fossil occurrence: Cambrian.

Last known fossil occurrence: Permian.

Cool Trilobites links:

Search for images of Trilobites on Google

See Trilobites from the:

Quaternary
Tertiary
Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
Permian
Carboniferous
Devonian
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Precambrian
help

site tour | about the site | site map | site credits | page credits | help | FAQs | contact
© | editorial policy | awards | teachers' guide | site generator | About RSS

paleontology news:   recent site additions: