Elrathia kingii

Elrathia is perhaps the most recognizable trilobite in the world. It is often called the "classic" trilobite due to the immense number of high-quality fossils found by collectors.

Core Facts

Scientific Name: Elrathia kingii
Time Period: Middle Cambrian (approx. 505 million years ago).
Classification: Order Ptychopariida.
Average Size: Typically 1 to 5 cm in length.

Key Features

Location: Found in massive quantities in the Wheeler Shale of Utah, USA.
Habitat: These creatures thrived in low-oxygen zones on the seafloor where most predators could not survive.
Anatomy: It features a smooth, oval-shaped exoskeleton with a broad head (cephalon) and a small tail (pygidium).

Fun Fact: Because they are so abundant, Elrathia fossils are the most common "entry-level" fossils for private collectors and museums worldwide.

Elrathia kingii

Core Facts

Key Features

BACK