Metopolichas Trilobite

Metopolichas Trilobite
Metopolichas platyrhinus
Middle Ordovician, Llanvirnian
Volchov River Valley, St. Petersburg Region, Russia
With its distinctive, shovel-like rostrum, this lichid species ranks among the most easily recognized in the world. There has been much speculation regarding the role such a strange morphological feature may have played, but some academics believe it served the purpose of stirring up surrounding sea mud, freeing small, plankton-like particles for the ever-hungry trilobite to ingest. Measuring 3 5/8 x 1 5/8in; Matrix measuring 5 ¾ x 5 3/8in