Scientists have found on the territory of modern Czech Republic the fossilized remains of a trilobite that survived after a fight with
Today from an ancient marine arthropodonly the head remained. Scientists believe that the scratches on its shell and head shield were caused by a huge sea scorpion (an extinct arthropod of the order Eurypterida). The predator also deprived the trilobite of one eye. Cracoscorpions lived in the marine environment at the same time as trilobites. They were related to modern swordtails, although they looked more like scorpions and crayfish, and also fed on trilobites.
Fossil of the shellfish Eurypterus remipes. SS
As the study authors note, fossilsTrilobites surviving head trauma (especially such a serious one) are extremely rare. However, a particular representative of the species Dalmanitina socialis not only survived, but also grew a new eye to replace the lost one. Therefore, this fossil is of particular scientific interest.
Fossils found in the Czech Republic / © Fatka et al., 2021
Despite the fact that the regrown eyeThe trilobite was displaced, and its structure was imperfect; it perfectly performed the visual function, scientists found. They published their findings in the scientific journal International Journal of Paleopathology.
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