Trilobites are among the most prolific lifeforms in Earth’s history. This class of extinct marine arthropods lived on Earth for over 270 million years, from the Early Cambrian to the end of the Permian period.

These creatures are characterized by their distinctive three-lobed body shape, which likely evolved as a means of increasing mobility and flexibility. There are over 25,000 known species of trilobites, ranging in size from just a few millimeters to over 70 centimeters in length. This specimen is from the genusAcastoides, which was among the smallest known trilobites.

This fossil is from the Devonian period, which lasted from approximately 419 million to 359 million years ago. This was a time of great change and evolution, with the emergence of many new species and the development of complex ecosystems. The Devonian is sometimes referred to as the “Age of Fishes,” as it saw the evolution and diversification of many new marine species.