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Un-named Trilobite
Order: Trilobite
Genus: Not known Species: Not known Location found: Cobb Valley, Golden Bay |
This specimen was found in the Cambrian rocks that crop out locally in the Cobb Valley, north-west of Nelson. The area is now a conservation area and all collecting is forbidden; this specimen was obtained ca. 40 years ago.
Fragments of trilobites can be seen scattered throughout the rock. Note: the ruler in the photograph is divided into centimetres.
Trilobites are early arthropods, formed of three segments or lobes: the head, the thorax and the tail. These segments can just be made out in the picture,though in many cases the remains have broken up as they were fossilised. Attribution to genus ort species is difficult without closer inspection, but because of the extreme hardness of the limestone, extraction of individual fossils has not been attempted, and would require specialised equipment. It is possible that they belong to the genus Homalonotus*, which has been previously recorded from Ordovician rocks in New Zealand.
* Note: Given that this is being written as we all sit locked down alone at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has to be the best ever name for a fossil - though no doubt it isn't really pronounced Home-Alone-Otus!
Fragments of trilobites can be seen scattered throughout the rock. Note: the ruler in the photograph is divided into centimetres.
Trilobites are early arthropods, formed of three segments or lobes: the head, the thorax and the tail. These segments can just be made out in the picture,though in many cases the remains have broken up as they were fossilised. Attribution to genus ort species is difficult without closer inspection, but because of the extreme hardness of the limestone, extraction of individual fossils has not been attempted, and would require specialised equipment. It is possible that they belong to the genus Homalonotus*, which has been previously recorded from Ordovician rocks in New Zealand.
* Note: Given that this is being written as we all sit locked down alone at home because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has to be the best ever name for a fossil - though no doubt it isn't really pronounced Home-Alone-Otus!