Gigantopygus papillatus Hupé 1953
Early Cambrian
Issafen, Morocco

Beautiful, big 87mm trilobite professionally prepped on huge 330mm slab

Gigantopygus is an extinct genus of trilobites that lived during the middle to late Ordovician period, approximately 460-445 million years ago. Trilobites were a diverse group of marine arthropods that existed for over 270 million years and are known for their distinctive three-lobed exoskeletons.

Gigantopygus is known from fossils found in Morocco and China, and is characterized by its large size and distinctive pygidium, which is the posterior part of the trilobite’s body. The function of the enlarged pygidium in Gigantopygus is uncertain, but it may have served as a defensive structure or as a means of attracting mates. Overall, Gigantopygus provides important insights into the diversity and evolution of trilobites during the Ordovician period.