Description
A fantastic 8 cm example of the archaic Nevadia weeksi. This specimen is centered on an attractive pink plate and has a thick black shell with good inflation. Exceptional, aesthetic examples of this species are very difficult to obtain. Nevadia are among the earliest trilobites, appearing in the Lower Cambrian, featuring long, sweeping graceful spines and a wide but shallow cephalon. This textbook specimen shows a clear opistothorax (secondary thorax), beginning after the 15th thoracic segment, where the segments begin to appear degenerated, but continue for an additional 15 segments. This degeneration of these latter segments matches perfectly with the description of this species and points to their primitive nature. The species is often referred to as the ancestor of Olenellus fowleri, due to their similarities. Other trilobite partials on the plate such as an Esmeradina rowi cephalon & hypostome, also have thick, inflated black exoskeleton. Legendary collection piece!
Age: Lower Cambrian, Stage 3
Species Name: Nevadia weeksi
Order / Family: Redlichiida / Nevadiidae
Locality: Montezuma Range, Esmeralda County, Nevada
Formation: Poleta Formation
