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Trilobite Death Plate
This is a slab of Deschambault Formation limestone from Quebec, Canada. It dates to the late Ordovician Period, or very roughly 450 million years ago. Two types of trilobites are preserved. By itself on the far right is an example of Ceraurus pleurexanthmus. There is a 2nd example of this type on the far left lying alongside the 2nd type of trilobite on the plate, an example of Flexicalymene senaria lying on its' back. See closeup. There are a total of 6 Flexicalymene on the plate, 4 on their backs, one right side up and a partially enrolled example on the left edge of the plate. Trilobites were my first love and this plate has been in my collection for about 25 years now. What looks like a long tail extending down from the trilo top center is actually the stem of a cystoid, a crinoid-like critter that attached itself to the seafloor by its' stem. The head, or crown, of the cystoid is crushed beneath the trilo. The trilobites are all in the 1/14" to 1/12" range.
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