Trilobites

Elrathia kingi (ptychopariids)

1 of 25

Xystridura templetonensis (paradoxid)

2 of 25

Cryptolithus tesselatus (trinucleid)

3 of 25

Breviphillipsia sampsoni (proetid)

4 of 25

Cromus optimus (cheirurid)

5 of 25

Redlichia takooensis (redlichiid)

6 of 25

Hoekaspis matacensis (asaphid)

7 of 25

Zacanthoides typicalis (corynexochid)

8 of 25

Bristolia bristolensis (ollenellid)

9 of 25

Tricrepicephalus texanus (ptychopariid)

10 of 25

Paradoxides gracilis (paradoxiid)

11 of 25

Lotagnostus asiaticus (agnostid)

12 of 25

Ductina vietnamica (phacopid)

13 of 25

Pterocephalia norfordi (dikelocepahalid)

14 of 25

Albertella helena (corynexochid)

15 of 25

Drotops megalomanicus (phacopid)

16 of 25

Pseudoyuepingia whitei (ceratopygid)

17 of 25

Proasaphiscus rigidus (ptychopariid)

18 of 25

Olenellus gilberti (ollenellid)

19 of 25

Sinespinaspis markhami (odontopleurid)

20 of 25

Lobopyge haasi (lichid)

21 of 25

Bathyurus extans (bathyurid)

22 of 25

Ceratarges armatus (lichid)

23 of 25

Scotoharpes bohemicus (harpid)

24 of 25

Selenopeltis buchi (odontopleurid)

25 of 25

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Few fossils are as fascinating as trilobites, an extinct order of arthropods common in marine rocks from the Cambrian to Permian geological periods, between about 542 and 251 million years old. Like other arthropods, trilobites had numerous segments which fell apart and scattered on death and decay. A completely articulated trilobite is a rare prize, and a thing of beauty. This is a selection of unusually complete specimens from the recently acquired Retallack collection. Photography by Win McLaughlin, text by Greg Retallack, and web development by Keith Hamm. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.