Ogygiocaris buchii Trilobite Fossil Ordovician Wales UK Meadowtown Quarry Specimen Genuine British Trilobite Collector Fossil Display

Description

Genuine Ogygiocaris buchii Trilobite Fossil from Wales

This exceptional Ogygiocaris buchii trilobite fossil originates from the famous Meadowtown Beds of Meadowtown Quarry, Powys, Wales, UK, and dates to the Ordovician Period (Darriwilian Stage), approximately 467–458 million years ago. Trilobites are among the most iconic fossils in the geological record, and this specimen represents a classic British example from one of the United Kingdom’s historically important fossil localities.

The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive, carefully chosen for collectors who appreciate authentic natural history material. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card, confirming that the specimen is a genuine fossil.

For full sizing and scale, please refer to the photographs included in the listing.

Geological Age and Meadowtown Beds Formation

The specimen comes from the Meadowtown Beds, a well-known fossil-bearing geological unit within the Ordovician rocks of mid-Wales. These rocks were deposited during the Darriwilian stage of the Middle Ordovician, a time when much of what is now Wales lay beneath a deep marine environment along the margins of the ancient continent Avalonia.

Sediments at Meadowtown Quarry accumulated in offshore marine conditions, where fine muds and silts settled slowly on the sea floor. These low-energy depositional environments allowed delicate marine organisms such as trilobites to be buried and preserved in exceptional detail.

Over hundreds of millions of years, the sediments lithified into shale and mudstone, preserving fossils that provide an important record of marine life during the Ordovician diversification of invertebrate fauna.

Species Identification and Scientific Classification

Ogygiocaris buchii is one of the characteristic trilobite species found within the Ordovician rocks of Wales and surrounding regions. Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods that thrived in ancient oceans for nearly 270 million years.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Trilobita
• Order: Asaphida
• Family: Ogygiocarididae
• Genus: Ogygiocaris
• Species: Ogygiocaris buchii

The species was first described in the early study of British Ordovician trilobites and is named in honour of the geologist Leopold von Buch, reflecting the tradition of commemorating prominent scientists in palaeontology.

Morphology and Distinctive Features

Trilobites are named for their characteristic three-lobed body structure, consisting of a central axial lobe flanked by two pleural lobes. Ogygiocaris buchii exhibits the classic anatomical features typical of the Asaphid trilobites.

Notable morphological traits include:

• A broad, semi-circular cephalon (head shield)
• Prominent compound eyes positioned on the cephalic margin
• A segmented thorax composed of articulated segments
• A wide pygidium (tail shield) that mirrors the curvature of the head
• Distinct axial segmentation running through the body

These features allowed trilobites to move efficiently along the sea floor and potentially enrol their bodies for protection from predators.

The fossilisation process has preserved the trilobite’s overall form within the surrounding rock matrix, revealing the ancient body structure that once belonged to a living marine arthropod.

Ordovician Marine Ecosystem

During the Ordovician Period, Earth’s oceans experienced one of the most significant evolutionary radiations in geological history. Marine ecosystems became increasingly complex, with trilobites forming an important component of seafloor communities.

The environment that preserved this specimen likely supported a wide variety of organisms, including:

• Brachiopods
• Graptolites
• Early molluscs
• Echinoderms
• Other trilobite species

Trilobites such as Ogygiocaris were generally benthic organisms, living on or near the seabed where they fed on organic particles, small invertebrates, or detritus within the sediment.

Fossil Preservation and Geological Significance

The preservation of trilobites in the Meadowtown Beds is the result of rapid burial in fine marine sediments, which protected the remains from scavengers and allowed the body outline to be preserved in stone.

Over geological time, mineral replacement and compaction preserved the fossil within the rock matrix, capturing details of the exoskeleton and segmentation that make trilobites such fascinating subjects for collectors and palaeontologists.

Fossils from Meadowtown Quarry are particularly valued because they represent a well-documented Ordovician fauna from the Welsh Basin.

Certificate of Authenticity

This trilobite fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card, confirming that the specimen is a genuine fossil.

Each specimen is selected for authenticity and quality, ensuring collectors receive a real piece of Earth’s deep geological history.

A Classic British Trilobite for Fossil Collectors

With its origin in one of the UK’s recognised Ordovician fossil localities, this Ogygiocaris buchii trilobite fossil represents an excellent example of early marine life preserved in Welsh rocks.

Whether displayed in a fossil cabinet, educational collection, or natural history display, this specimen provides a tangible connection to the ancient seas that covered Britain nearly 460 million years ago.