Cryptolithus radiatilis BIRUG 49305

sketchfab

BIRUG 49305 represents a diminutive example of the Ordovician trilobite Cryptolithus radiatilis, which belongs to the Trinucleidae family. Characterized by their substantial heads, these trilobites feature an anterior and lateral pitted fringe, as well as highly elongated genal spines that extend far beyond the head. In comparison to the head, the thorax is remarkably small, with the axial lobe measuring less than one-third the width of the pleural lobes. The absence of eyes in these trilobites clearly indicates a strong adaptation to dark benthic environments. As trinucleid trilobites first emerged at the beginning of the Ordovician and became extinct by its end, they serve as an effective indicator taxon for determining geological age. This particular specimen was collected from Betton in Shropshire by John Wattison and subsequently donated to the Lapworth Museum in 1974. The digitization process was handled by Andrew Jones using an Artec Spider 3D scanner.