Elrathia Fossil Trilobite – Middle Cambrian – Wheeler Formation – Utah, USA – Genuine Specimen with Certificate

Description

Elrathia Fossil Trilobite – Wheeler Formation, Middle Cambrian – House Range, Utah, USA

This listing features a carefully selected fossil trilobite of the genus Elrathia, one of the most iconic and widely studied trilobites of the Cambrian period. This fossil comes from the famous Wheeler Formation located in the House Range, Millard County, Western Utah, USA, an internationally significant Lagerstätte known for its exceptional preservation of early marine life.

Taxonomic Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Trilobita
• Order: Ptychopariida
• Superfamily: Ptychoparioidea
• Family: Alokistocaridae
• Genus: Elrathia
• Species commonly collected: Elrathia kingii
• Described by: Fielding Bradford Meek, 1870

Geological Context:

• Period: Cambrian
• Epoch: Middle Cambrian (~507 million years ago)
• Formation: Wheeler Shale Formation
• Location: House Range, Western Utah, USA
• Biozone: Ptychagnostus atavus Zone
• Depositional Environment: Anoxic marine shelf with fine-grained muds allowing exceptional fossil preservation. The area was part of a deep-water continental slope setting with periodic oxygen-poor conditions, ideal for the preservation of soft-bodied organisms as well as robust exoskeletons like trilobites.

Morphological Features:

• Cephalon (head): Broad with distinct glabella and smooth fixigenae
• Thorax: Composed of 13 well-defined segments
• Pygidium (tail): Large and nearly as wide as the cephalon, with distinct axial rings
• Generally black or dark brown fossilisation on light grey matrix shale
• The enrolled or outstretched dorsal view shows the iconic trilobite body plan clearly, making it ideal for display or education

Scientific and Collectible Significance:

Elrathia is one of the most extensively studied trilobite genera due to its abundance, well-preserved form, and clear segmentation. It is a favourite among fossil collectors, educators, and palaeontologists and often used to illustrate key evolutionary traits of early arthropods. These specimens come from layers that are globally recognised for their exceptional preservation of Cambrian biodiversity.

Specimen Details:

• 100% Genuine Fossil – Not a replica or cast
• Scale cube shown in photo = 1cm
• Please refer to the photograph for full size and detail – what you see is what you receive
• Cleaned and professionally prepared for display or research use
• From an internationally important fossil site with exceptional stratigraphic resolution
• Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Provenance:

This fossil was collected from the Wheeler Formation in Utah, USA – a site frequently studied for its insights into Cambrian marine ecosystems. It represents an authentic and scientifically valuable specimen suitable for collectors, educators, and researchers.