Scabriscutellum furciferum

Trilobites Order Corynexochida, Suborder Illaenina, Superfamily Illaenoidea, Family Thysanopeltidae
Geologic Age: Middle Devonian
Trilobite is 53 mm long
Jebel Oufaten, Alnif, Morocco
Remarks: Like the majority of trilobites, Scabriscutellum had holochroal eyes with many fine facets. Holochrocal eyes have a very tight hexagonal packing of small facets with a single corneal layer covering the many lenses. Many living arthropods have compound eyes that are very sensitive to motion. It is presumed that these were as well, enabling them to quickly spot an approaching predator - trilobites putatively adapted this trait early in evolution. Also note the heavy ribbing of the pygidium. Scabriscutellum is distinguished from Thysanopeltis by a lack of pygidial fring spines , and from Scutellum by the ribbing of the pygidium.

Also see: Moroccan Trilobites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platyscutellum trilobites had holochroal eyes:

Platyscutellum trilobites had holochroal eyes

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