Kettneraspis Trilobite1.jpg

Kettneraspis sp. Trilobite

Cravat Member-Bois d'Arc Formation, Coal County, Oklahoma
Devonian Age (419.2- 358.9 million years ago)
The  Kettneraspis sp. trilobite was a bizarre creature of the ancient seas.  The broad and long array of spines was likely a display protection against potential predators.  The free cheeks of these extinct creatures had a unique fringe of small spines projecting outward, as well and one cannot wonder if they served to help stir up the ocean floor to aid in search of food as the creature crawled across the sea bottom.  The eye stalks protruded up of the cephalon to a greater extent than most other trilobites of this region and period.  In addition, a robust head spine projected upward and back from the region between the eyes.  The trilobite measures 3/4" long and is on a matrix measuring 1 1/4" by 1".  
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: †Trilobita
Order: †Lichida
Family: †Odontopleuridae
Genus: †Kettneraspis