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Howdy all, This is a snippet from a record I'm keeping while I pursue paleontology as a career and I'm wondering what y'all think of it. I have had several opportunities to find fossils in many different deposits of the Drakes Formation within the Broad Run Park area. I have particularly been interested in the genus isotelus, a gargantuan trilobite and what is in my opinion one of the more fascinating of Kentucky’s paleofauna. On July 13th of this year (2024) I stumbled upon a site I had not seen before. What stuck out to me about this site was the size and quality of dozens of isotelus molt fragments, many of which were diagnostic. In contrast, the other deposits I have visited in the area bear few, tiny fragments which cannot be assigned to any particular part of the trilobite’s exoskeleton. I have visited this site four times since I found it (Today being July 23rd) and have continued to find excellent specimens. On today’s expedition, I found my second and most complete hypostome to an isotelus, and before today have managed to find pieces of the cephalon/pygidium, thorax segments, and yet another hypostome. Another thing that has more recently stuck out to me is the sessile benthic fauna. At this site, I have found countless rugose corals and bryozoans, but there is no evidence whatsoever of tabulate corals. In contrast, at another site I have visited, I found small, half pound tabulate corals all the way up to giant twenty five pound ones. I have managed to find only a few, very small, fragmentary pieces of isotelus in this site. Considering all these things, it makes me wonder if, either this represents different “biomes,” or if this shows how the environment of the Drakes changed over time, assuming these sites are of different layers. For example, the biome at the “isotelus site” would persist of a flat, mostly open seabed covered in rugose corals and bryozoans, where isotelus would frequent, and the “tabulate coral site” would persist of a reef environment with a diverse community of corals and bryozoans where isotelus would not frequent. It is worth noting that nautiloids are present in both sites. Not surprising, as nautiloids have been shown to be very adaptable over the course of their existence on this planet. Another interesting thing I have been thinking about, in regards to the aforementioned hypostomes, is the fact that there is a great variation in the length of their prongs. The first one I found is not a good example, as it is missing one prong and the other is missing its tip. The other I found today, however, preserves both prongs, which are quite long when compared to others I have seen in other people’s collections. I am curious if this could represent different ages in isotelus, where the prongs get gradually longer as the trilobites get older, or if this could represent social behavior/sexual dimorphism and or implements. Perhaps males had longer prongs than females, which would be used for sexual combat, or vice versa.

Howdy all, Had some great luck fossil hunting in the Drakes Formation today, particularly in this piece here. This is a chunk of matrix with several isotelus molt fragments and this particular one pictured here is the largest I've ever found. The reason I'm making this post is because of a structure I found on the underside of the piece. I at first took it for a brachiopod, but after cleaning it off and looking closer, I wasn't so sure. One surface of it looks like the typical grooves you'd see on brachiopod genera such as hebertella and rafinesquina, but looking over on another surface of the structure, it looks like typical isotelus remains, which confuses me. The structure also continues into the matrix in a very un-brachiopodish way. I'm curious if this could be a hypostome from an isotelus or some other structure from that genus, or if it could be from another arthropod entirely. I'm including a video to give a better view of all the angles. 20240714_022412~2.mp4

So I headed out today in hopes to find a few more trilobites. I pulled up to the area and there were no vehicles. Which surprised me to he honest. I hopped out and started looking, and in a matter of minutes I found the first find of the day! Soon after a car pulled up and it was a person from Wisconsin, after a few minutes talking we were both off to look. A few minutes later another one was found. A bit later I found a piece of isotelus and started my search up, and I found another one! I spent some time and came up with pieces but nothing substantial (and actually lost the first piece I had found). I moved on and found more flexis as well as another isotelus piece. Then it happened, I found an awesome HUGE flexicalymene! Anyhow, here are a few photos! Does anyone know what the item is to the right in the first photo (the bottom photo as well).

During a trip to southeastern Indiana a month or so ago I found what seems to be a trilobite burrow but I'm not 100% sure it is. It seems to have a peice of isotelus in it but it doesn't have the usual texture of previous ones I've found. I'd love to hear some feed back on it.

Yesterday, I split open a piece of Ordovician matrix in attempts to extract a Hormatoma. To my surprise, a HUGE Isotelus hypostome was hidden inside the rock. Is there a formula to calculate to the size of the trilobite based on the size of the hypostome? I will post pictures of it later on in a separate post (fossil hunting trips).

I went out to look around today and found this, along with some others!

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I posted but I'm revisiting some of my material that I didn't ID. I found this rock underneath of a highway, so I can't confirm an exact location or period of origin but I'm going to make a guestimate that it's Upper Ordovician as I found it in Southern Ontario on the Georgian Bay Formation. This first picture I honestly have no idea what it is, the only thing that comes to mind is the rough shape of a jellyfish although I highly doubt that. The next pic I want to draw attention to is this one where I've circled the main point of interest. I believe it's a trilobite genal spine, probably Isotelus, although I haven't narrowed it down to a species yet. There's a few other potential bits there, such as the but to the far left, which kind of resembles part of a crinoid stem. Something else I noticed is around the area where the trilobite's body would have been (assuming it's a trilobite at all), the rock is a bit smoother than everywhere else. It doesn't show up too well in the pictures but you can feel the difference when you run your fingers over it. The rest of the pictures are just different angles and lighting of the same specimens. That's the majority of what I wanted to show today, hopefully some more finds will come soon!

Is this an isotelus shed? It is the 2nd one that I have found. Also found multiple rumps.

I went out today for a couple of hours and found some good stuff. Could someone help me out please, and let me know what the bumpy grayish brown thing is with the pattern (in the first photo), and the last 3 photos (besides the last, which is an isotelus) thank you!

So I was talking with a guy at work and he asked me how long that I have been collecting fossils. So I looked into it, it has been just over 6 months !!!! I was shocked when I seen it, but then I am stoked that I started. I am slowly branching out to others, but stay mainly after trilobites. Figured I would share a shelf of collected fossils to celebrate! Hahahaaa!

So I hauled butt after work to take a look around. The structure has collapsed alot as I noticed as soon as I pulled up. I hopped out and scaled the bank. My eyes scanning as moving up. Then I saw the first trilobite from the trip, a flexicalymene! Then another, time was ticking away and I knew I had to leave soon. Then I spotted something and I reached over and picked it up ... it was a fragmented isotelus! I was stoked and headed for home. After getting it home I cleaned it and saw the flaws ... but I am super stoked!

So I stopped at a spot and checked it out today and yesterday. I found a few things. Starting with an isotelus head. I looked but could not find more.

I went out to find a few more. I was more than happy! I found another isotelus fossil, but it wasn't what I was looking for. Added another day as well.

So I got out of work early yesterday and headed off in hopes to find a few trilobites. I started off by finding a flexicalymene, and another. Then it happened! I found a fraction of an isotelus! I was stoked and ready to head home! On my way back to my vehicle I figured that I would look for more. I stopped and stared up the slope and out of the cornet of my eye I spot it staring out towards me! I quickly and carefully remove it from the ground, which made me even more stoked! Here are a few photos!

Hiya everyone someone’s selling a trilobite, but hasn’t got a name or locality, normally I can tell straight away if a trilobite is real but the pictures aren’t the best and it’s like no trilobite I’ve seen, not sure if it’s a replica or a fake made to look like a isotelus.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a Christmas party hosted by Dan Cooper today. I arrived not knowing what to expect as I had never met him, let alone his friends and family. It didn't take long to figure out that I was with amazing people. Everyone there was so laid back and had a passion for fossils and fossil collecting. Dan is by far one of the most laid back and nicest people that I have met. He took the time to take me around his facility and show me fossils that were being prepped and parts of his collection, as well as introducing me to his friends and family. I can't say enough about this guy and the people that were there! Anyhow, a few photos from the visit.

I gained interest in this way late in life but can't get enough of it! Thanks to the books that members have suggested, many videos that I have watched, and all the knowledge this forum and it's members provide I have learned a bunch, and want to thank everyone that has taken time to help me . Not long ago I was in search for my first trilobite, and while cleaning things out I was shocked at what I saw. Here are some of the flexis that I have gathered since joining this site. It blows my mind! I have met a couple members so far, and hope to meet more in the future. You guys are amazing! Thanks you all!

Got out early and drove to check a spot out. Found a broken isotelus that is preserved amazing. Couldn't find the other part. Maybe next time. Will add photos when I get home.

How big would this isotelus had been? From tip of Cephalon to end of damaged genal spine is 13.9 cm.. Super stoked to have found it! Now I am not sure what to do with it, hahaha

Went out today and found what I believe to be a very small headless isotelus. Also found some flexis, and various other things. Here are a few photos from today.

Found this today after work, believe it is an isotelus pygidium. Is that correct?

I have been busy working, and fossil hunting, and haven't been sharing as much as I would like here on your forum, but have a story to share. Yesterday I arrived to hunt for trilobites early in the morning. I started off hitting a couple areas that I had noticed the day before. I wasn't there long and heard voices approaching. I looked up and a man was almost on top of me. I stood up and we started a conversation, he asked if he was encroaching on me. I told him not at all and he was more than welcome to hunt alongside of me. He then told me that he was a professor and he was doing research with a student. He asked me what all that I had found and I explained to him that I was new to fossil hunting and that I didn't know most of what I was finding, but was mainly after trilobites. He then offered to ID what I had collected if I would show him. At that point I had only kept a few brachiopods. He explained what they were and started to tell me of areas to go to for trilobites, as well as other fossils. We of course talk about trilobites and I tell him of two people that I had ran into that had both told me that they had found isotelus rollers there. One person from Wisconsin that found a baseball sized specimen, which he had shown me photos . Another was a hoosier that showed me photos of a smaller roller that he had found there. You could tell by the look on the professor's face that he thought that both people were pulling my leg. He then told me that he had been bringing his students there for many years and one of the things that he would offer them, is that if any of them would produce a full isotelus he would reward them. His student approached I thanked him, and told them that I wished them luck and started climbing a super steep loose rock incline to get up higher to what looked to be good to me for trilobites. Part of the way up I started seeing micro areas of interest and started bouncing from one to another on my way. Next thing I know I spot something that catches my eye. Bend over and pick it up, and about fall over. It is an isotelus! I stand there in amazement and inspect the small trilobite. Normally I would continue hunting. But I knew he was still there with his student so I head his way. I shout down to him and say, "you will never believe what I just found". He asks what, and I tell him. Him and his student quickly scale the hill and inspect the isotelus. He then says, "I would have to pay up for that one". There is more to the story than this. But I just think that there was something to finding that fossil. Had they not shown up, I would have not scaled the hill via the route I did. The fact that he didn't seem to believe that the other's had found the isotelus. The fact that I spotted it amongst the rubble that I did. I don't know, it just seems strange to me. Is Karma real?

Just found my first isotelus! Will add more photos later, still hunting but so stoked, had to share!

Hopped out for a short time today. Just wasn't feeling it. But I plan on going back out soon. But before I left I did find some flexicalymene partials, a bunch of isotelus fragments, including the mouth plate that I kept in the photo. I also grabbed a few cool hash plates with a good variety on them all.