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Beautiful Red Elrathia kingii trilobite fossil on a rainbow matrix. House Range of Utah

Elrathia Trilobite Facts and Information - The Details

Elrathia kingii trilobite fossils of the Cambrian are one of the most recognizable and abundant fossils. They are found in huge concentrations in certain layers of the Wheeler shale in Utah. They are so abundant, there are comercial quarries in Utah dedicated to extracting these trilobite fossils.

Elrathia trilobites have a wide thorax and have short genial spines on their cephalon. Other than that, they are rather plain looking. The typical size of an Elrathia is around an inch. Small ones are mere millimeters in length, while large ones can get around 2 inches in length.

Their mouth parts and body shape suggest they were particle feeders that scavenged the ocean floor. One interesting fact about Elrathia is they are found in zones below the oxygen level required by most organisms, in a zone called the exareobic, a zone that borders the anaerobic zone, which lacks sufficient oxygen. This may be why Elrathia are preserved in such vast numbers, as poor oxygen environments are more favorable for fossilization.

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Where to find Elrathia Trilobite Fossils

Elrathi trilobites are mainly found in the Cambrian Wheeler Shale in Utah and Nevada. They are the most common trilobite found in these areas.

To try and find your own Elrathi kingii trilobites, I would suggest going to the U-Dig quarry near Delta, Utah.

Click here to read about my trilobite fossil collecing trip in the Wheeler Shale near Delta, Utah

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Recommended Books

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Trilobites: Common Trilobites of North America (A NatureGuide Book)
by Jasper Burns, 2000

Jasper Burns has some great illustrated fossil guide books. This one is on the Trilobites of North America. It has detailed illustrations of 41 species of North American trilobites and includes information about trilobite paleobiology, vision, growth, extinction, and much more! It's a nice little resource book for those interested in North American trilobites. It's also a very inexpensive book. Check it out!

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The Trilobite Book: A Visual Journey
by Dr. Riccardo Levi-Setti, 2014

This is an updated (2014) hardcover (kindle available) of his famous 1994 book. It now has color images instead of black and white ones. The images are of prefectly prepared trilobites from all over the world. this book is geared toward the beginner and does not get overly technical. However, it's wonderful just to see the pictures and is a must for any trilobite enthusiast.

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Trilobites for Sale:

Trilobites from Fossil Era
Trilobite fossils are some of the most beautiful and collectible fossils in the world! There are countless species of trilobites. They make beautiful display and conversation pieces. Common ones make very affordable for gifts to fossil and paleontology enthusiasts. Fossil Era has a huge selection of top quality trilobites from many states and many countries. It's fun just to browse through the inventory and look at all the different types!

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Elrathia Kingii Fossil Examples

Elrathia kingii from the House Range in Utah

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