Peronopsis instricta Trilobite Fossil from Wheeler Shale Utah USA Middle Cambrian with COA

Description

Exceptional Peronopsis instricta Trilobite – Wheeler Shale, Middle Cambrian

This beautifully preserved Peronopsis instricta trilobite fossil comes from the world-renowned Wheeler Shale Formation of the House Range, Antelope Springs, Millard County, Utah, USA. This celebrated locality is famous for yielding museum-grade Cambrian fossils with exquisite detail and outstanding preservation. The fossil offered here is a carefully chosen specimen, and the photographs show the exact piece you will receive. As always, it is a 100% genuine fossil and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Formation – Middle Cambrian Wheeler Shale

Deposited around 507 million years ago, the Wheeler Shale is one of the most scientifically significant Cambrian formations in North America. It represents a deep-water marine setting where very fine sediments accumulated in a calm, low-oxygen environment. These ideal conditions allowed delicate organisms, including trilobites and soft-bodied fauna, to be preserved in remarkable clarity.

The Wheeler Shale is widely recognised for its fossil richness and its importance in understanding early marine ecosystems shortly after the Cambrian Explosion. Its laminated shales record a dynamic and rapidly diversifying biosphere, making every piece from the formation a fragment of Earth’s earliest complex life.

Species Profile – Peronopsis instricta (Order Agnostida)

Peronopsis instricta belongs to the order Agnostida, a distinctive group of small, blind trilobites known for their compact, highly streamlined morphology. Members of this order typically have a cephalon and pygidium that are very similar in size and outline, contributing to their unique isopygous appearance.

Key characteristics of Peronopsis instricta include:

• Smooth exoskeleton lacking heavy ornamentation
• Rounded cephalon and pygidium with clean, symmetrical margins
• Well-defined axial lobe running through both shield sections
• Compact size, allowing for high-detail preservation in fine-grained shale

These elegant features make Peronopsis instricta a favourite among collectors of Cambrian trilobites. Its minimalistic yet refined anatomy provides a fascinating contrast to more ornate trilobite families that appeared later in geological history.

Origin and Scientific Importance

The House Range in Utah is a globally acclaimed fossil locality, producing exceptional arthropods, trilobites, and soft-bodied organisms. Antelope Springs, in particular, has been a cornerstone for palaeontological research and private collecting for decades, with its finely bedded shales offering stable and reliable preservation.

Specimens from this site are highly valued not only for their aesthetic qualities but for their contribution to reconstructing ancient palaeoenvironments, community structures, and evolutionary pathways during the Middle Cambrian. Each fossil provides a rare, tangible link to a marine world that existed over half a billion years ago.

Your Authentic Fossil Specimen

• Species: Peronopsis instricta
• Formation: Wheeler Shale
• Age: Middle Cambrian
• Locality: House Range, Antelope Springs, Millard County, Utah, USA
• Authenticity: 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
• Condition: Carefully selected specimen with clear morphological detail
• Sizing: Full measurements shown in the listing photographs
• Actual Specimen Shown: You will receive the exact fossil pictured

This superb Peronopsis instricta trilobite is ideal for collectors, educational use, or display, offering both scientific value and timeless natural beauty from one of the most important fossil sites on Earth.