Triarthrus Trilobites

These rare specimens come from  a quarry in New York where Triarthrus trilobites are found with preserved appendages, antennae and other organs.  The preservation of these specimens is astounding, and the skillful preparation that is required to reveal these features can take hours and hours of slow, painstaking work.  The state of preservation and the skill of the preparator rival even the finest Bundenbach Trilobites that I've ever seen.  The Bundenbach specimens don't even come close in micro-preservation!! These specimens average in length at 1 cm.   The trilobite specimens are colorfully preserved in glittering gold pyrite by mother nature. 
 
"Modern and extinct arthropods, including trilobites, have an outer carapace or shell, made from a complex form a calcite incorporating proteins and polysaccharides, often referred to simply as chiton.  For ease of understanding, a trilobite’s dorsal shell exoskeleton can be compared to the shell of a crab for some species, or a bit softer for others.   The ventral (underside) membrane of the trilobite, along with its legs and antennae, were not hardened as the dorsal surface.  These soft parts had a similar consistency of the dangling legs of a shrimp and their rather soft antennae.  When a trilobite is fossilized these soft tissues have a very slim chance of preserved, much less than that of the hard-calcified exoskeleton. To quantify the rarity of soft tissue preservation, I would say with confidence, that only the hard, calcified dorsal exoskeleton is seen in a percentage greater than 99.9% of the time.  That means of all the trilobites ever fossilized over the course of several hundred million years, less than .01% of these animals show evidence of soft tissue preservation.  This extreme rarity expressed in percentage value is shocking.  From an evolutionary standpoint the soft tissues of early animals such as trilobites is an opportunity to understand how organisms evolved to meet challenges in ever changing environments, and ultimately avoid or succumb to extinction."
 
These specimens are not from the Beecher Beds, but are from a new locality with a limited number of initial specimens available for sale before it goes under control of the academic community.
 

Last Modified 05/09/2008

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(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York

Comments:   This is a 1cm  premium pyritized Triarthrus in lateral position (laying on it's side) with incredibly pronounced and inflated soft tissues.  The soft tissues in this case are over 20 individual cephalic and thoracic appendages (legs).  This specimen is one of the clearest and brightest soft tissue trilobites ever offered for sale.  

 

This specimen is unique in that the pyrite of the exoskeleton is extremely robust and very glossy.  This bright golden trait is also passed onto the legs.  The legs are formed as pairs on each segment with some overlapping.  Each pair of legs has a walking appendage used for locomotion as well as capturing prey.  The second leg of the pair was covered in fine bristles which were gill hairs and were used in respiration.

 

All three of the cephalic (head) appendages are shown in this specimen.  Cephalic appendages are rarely seen in dorsal and lateral specimens.  There are also several of the walking legs displaying the very rare claws of the trilobite on their tips!  The gill hairs are visible on some legs and even the anal tract protrudes from beneath the pygidium!  A rare specimen and very well defined!

 

The antennae of the trilobite are present but are tucked completely beneath the trilobite.  On tip protrudes from under the cephalon and is clearly labeled.

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 1 - Price $2,200.00 

 

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York

Comments:  This is an exceptional 8mm pyritized trilobite; species Triarthrus eatoni, with beautifully preserved antennae.  The pyrite on this trilobite is very glossy and filled nicely.  On the plate with the Triarthrus is another Triarthrus, but just a negative or impression.  There are also several rare Climacograptus graptolites which are also fully pyritized, making them even more rare!

The antennae on the gold bug are both wonderfully articulated showing exceptional detail in fine segmentation.  The antennae are also bent abruptly at a 90° angle, an amazing testament to the current of the burial material as it passed by the trilobite preserving the last seconds of the trilobites life.

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 2 - Price $500.00 

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York
 Comments:   The double is the cream of the crop!  Present are TWO Triarthrus trilobites, each having both antennae, and pairs of legs on both sides.  One bug measures 1.2 cm, the other is 1 cm not including antennae length.  The smaller bug was on the edge of the matrix and had to have the other half reattached.  It is very solid and very stable.  This bug also has one antenna tied in a knot, a testament to the force of the burial.  The other bug has textbook outstretched “V” antennae.  The legs are in excellent condition, and on the larger bug, some of the legs have gill hairs.  Both specimens are heavily pyritized and very bright!  This is an incredibly rare plate! 

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 6 - Price $6500.00 

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York
 Comments: This is an incredibly rare pyritized meraspid stage (true juvenile) of the trilobite Triarthrus eatoni from the soft tissue quarry.  Meraspids represent less than 1% of the collected trilobites, so this little guy is very scarce.  This little trilobite measures just 3.5mm and has just 9 thoracic segments, far less than an adult of this species which usually has thirteen or more.  This is likely the only time a Triarthrus meraspid from a soft tissue producing locality has ever been offered for sale.

 

The pygidium (tail) is tucked neatly beneath the bug and just the first two segments of it are visible.  A few features of great interest are the occipital ring, the axial nodes (center-line spikes on the back), and the cephalon and eyes.

 

First the occipital node, the first elongated segment toward the rear of the head, is very enlarged with a very pronounced spine on it.  This feature is lost on adult specimens.

 

The axial nodes or spines are also very pronounced; you can see them as a line running down the middle of the trilobite. This feature lost on adults in most cases, at least at this locality.

 

The cephalon (head) is also very large for the rest of the trilobite.  The eyes are also very large and way out of proportion for a normal adult size version.

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 7 - Price $385.00 

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York
 Comments: This is an excellent opportunity to own a soft tissue trilobite with legs at a very reasonable price.  This example of a 1.1cm Triarthrus eatoni is an impression but many of the well-defined golden pyritized walking legs have remained.  The eye is also present and pyritized as well.

 

There are seven legs total.  This is actually a rare example of a specimen have all three of of it's cephalic appendages visible.  Generally they remain tucked under the head out of sight.  These "head legs" were used as the final manipulators for getting food items into the mouth of the trilobite.  There are also four thoracic legs with excellent segmentation in the leg sections and all are very bright and golden.

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 8 - Price $200.00 

 

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Name:  Triarthrus eatoni
Geologic Age: Ordovician (445 Million Years Old)
 Stratigraphic detail:  Lorraine Shale
 Location:  Oneida Co., New York
 Comments:  This is an absolutely stunning plate of trilobites with soft tissue preservation such as walking and gilled legs and antennae.  All of these trilobites are pyritized and contrast well against the dark matrix. The detail and quality of each trilobite is exceptional and unmatched.  A plate of this number of soft tissue trilobites comes around but once every few years.  As a general rule they are found sparsely as single unassociated specimens.

Adding to the rarity we have all positions represented!  One dorsal, one lateral (laying on it's side), and a ventral as well!  As a general rule they are found sparsely as single unassociated specimens.  The trilobites on the plate measure 1.5cm, 1cm, 1cm, and 8mm, respectively.  The smallest trilobite is the one alienated from the group at far left. 

 

The dorsal at the bottom of the plate is the largest of the four.  This bug has excellent legs, many showing the detailed and rarely seen gill hairs still attached to the legs.  This trilobite also has a wonderful antenna.

 

Moving up a short distance we have an exceptional 1cm lateral trilobite.  This Triarthrus I would dare say is the highest quality example of a lateral positioned soft tissue trilobite ever seen!  The legs are all paired perfectly and all are accounted for.  Each pair of legs per segment has one leg for walking and one for respiration.  Each leg pair extends outward and are neatly and uniformly crossed at the tips.  The antennae are nearly perfect and both are present.  The shorter of the two antennae may have recovered from an injury and appears to be sprouting a new segment!  This trilobite alone is a collection anchor!

 

Just above the lateral we come to a rare ventral (upside down).  The ventral has both antennae and the cephalon is well defined with many of the soft parts still preserved beneath the head. 

Lastly the small trilobite somewhat removed from the group at far left is bright golden.  This trilobite had an unhappy landing in the sediment as it was buried.  The head is completely turned under, twisted and crushed, a testament to the force of the burial.  Just above the head is gold line in the shape of a loop; this is one of the trilobite's antennas.

Triartrus eatoni Trilobite 9 - Price $6750.00