Trilobites were the ruling form of life from 540 to 500 million years ago (“The Age of Trilobites”). These marine animals went extinct 250 million years later. Trilobites were the most numerous and successful marine organisms of the early Paleozoic era. It is estimated there were more than 20,000 species of trilobites over their long history.
They had many legs, each with a set of gills and sophisticated, multifaceted eyes. Like most arthropods, trilobites could only grow by shedding their old skins. Trilobites lived in shallow ocean waters, and on reefs. Their skeletons are found in all types of sedimentary rock on the Niagara Escarpment, from limestone to shale.
Trimerus delphinocephalus
On permanent display at the
Discovery Centre
Dalmanites limulurus
On permanent display at the
Discovery Centre
Arctinerus boltoni
On permanent display at the
Discovery Centre
For more informatrion on Trilobites, this dude’s site is the place to go: http://www.trilobites.info/
Ancient Seas illustration and creature cutouts ©Emily S. Damstra
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