Sargon Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Hello everyone. I've recently bought this trilobite on E bay. Is this a real fossil? Can you tell me which species it belongs to? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackSnakes Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Phacops araw is the species I believe. The specimen looks Moroccan, as most of the current bugs on the market come from and looks (from the pics) as it should do, although others may have a different opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I'm thinking it's Phacops speculator, and I'm not seeing any signs of obvious fakery. There is a little fill from the crack on the 8th and 9th segments, but it looks like a pretty decent bug. Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargon Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thank you for the information!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Based on the number of eye lenses and overall morphology this phacopid looks like a good match with Barrandeops ovatus. Also attached is an image of the eye of Phacops araw which clearly shows fewer lens files excluding it from the discussion. The trivial name speculator is presently associated with Austerops and many of the Moroccan 'Phacops' genera are now considered Barrandeops based on features of the palpebral lobes. McKellar, R.C., & Chatterton, B.D.E. (2009) Early and Middle Devonian Phacopidae (Trilobita) of southern Morocco. Palaeontographica Canadiana 28:1-110 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargon Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 The morphological similarity between these specimens is evident, I think you could be right. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZ_Fossil_Collecta Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 one of the best ways to find if it is a fake is to literally cut it in half. DONT though, theres probably other ways without damaging the fossil. if it was really really cheap it might be but honestly i dont know. im not very experienced with this. I'm CRAZY about amber fossils and just as CRAZY in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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