Isotelus gigas Trilobite Fossil

Here are some images of an Isotelus gigas trilobite fossil. It was found in Franklin County Kentucky USA in the Lexington Limestone. This creature existed in oceans of the Ordovician Period. My cousin Kenny prepped this fossil and the results can be seen from his hours of work. Nice!
Below is picture of what looked like before he started.

Isotelus Trilobite Hypostome Fossil

This picture shows the feeding scoop or hypostome of an Isotelus sp. trilobite fossil (not complete). It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period.

Thanks to Vic for the pictures.

Ordovician Period Trilobites

Two trilobite fossils are shown in this entry. The first is an intact enrolled Flexicalymene sp. trilobite. It is probably Ordovician Period and found in Kentucky. Thanks to Mary Ann for letting me photograph it. I forgot to ask about how it became part of her collection.  With some air abrasion cleaning, this specimen could be look'in nice!

The second trilobite fossil is just a fragment.  It is an Isotelus sp. I recently found on a field trip to Franklin County, Kentucky.  The original find was just the back of the cephalon plate with a broken genial spine. Using a Dremel engraving tool, more of the cephalon was exposed and the eye appeared as well.  Unfortunately, my inexperience with the engraver caused some white scratch marks on the cephalon and the eye piece.



This fossil was found in Lexington Limestone and is from the Ordovician Period.  The particular trilobite is the official state fossil of Ohio.  It was awarded that distinction by the legislature in 1985.

The image shows a close up to where the genial spine once protruded off the cephalon.

Possibly, these creatures reached lengths to almost a meter.

Isotelus Pygidium and Hypostoma

Here are two pieces of Isotelus Ordovician Period trilobite. I think my cousin found this in Carroll County, Kentucky in the Kope Formation.

I should have gotten some sort scale on the image. What attracted me to this fossil was the fragment of line texture still preserved on the hypostoma ("mouth plate" or food scoop).

Isotelus Trilobite Fragment

Here is an fragment of an Isotelus trilobite from the Ordovician period. Notice all the fine line cracks in its shell. It was found in eastern Jefferson County, Kentucky.