Ordovician

Period: Lower Ordovician;Location: Ensjö Quarry, Kristiania, NorwayDimensions: 6.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 cmPhyllograptus is a genus of graptolites belonging to the order Graptoloidea, family Tetragraptidae.Fossils of this genus have been found from the Early Ordovician (475–473 million years ago) in sediments in Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The typical length of a colony of these leaf-shaped animals could reach up to 3.5 centimeters. They were passively mobile planktonic suspension feeders. Phyllograptus species are excellent index fossils for identifying rocks from the Ordovician.

Large slab with impressive trilobite Asaphopsoides yongshunensis (Liu, 1982).Uncommon!Age: Lower Ordovician, Tremadoc;Locality: Yongshun, Hunan Province, Xiangxi County, ChinaSize trilobite: 21 cm; slab: 27.5 x 22 x 1.5 cmColors in product photos may differ from those of the original item for technical reasons.

Age: SilurianFinding region: Smotrych River, Kamjanez-Podilskyj, UkraineSize of head: 2 cmSize of matrix: 6 x 5 x 0,7 cmEurypterids, also called sea scorpions for their pointy telson, evolved in the Ordovician. They were the apex predators of the upper Ordovician, Silurian and lower Devonian seas, and reached their largest biodiversity during this time. The largest representatives of this order could reach up to 3 meters, while Balteurypterus tetragonophtalmus only was a few modest centimeters long. The Suborder of Eurypterina, to which Eurypterus of course belongs, modified their last pair of legs into swimming paddles. They had two respiratory systems - book gills and Kiemenplatten - and trace fossils indicate that they could go on land. They never fully transitioned, however, probably because like their relatives the horseshoe crabs they chewed with the bases of their legs outside of their mouth, which would have been more efficient underwater than on land. In the seas, fish started outcompeting them, which drove the remaining species into the rivers. In the Permian there were only a few species left, among them the heaviest arthropods to ever exist. During the Permo-Triassic extinction the last members of this group went extinct.The colors on the pictures may differ slightly from the original due to technical reasons.

Age: SilurianLocality: Kamjanez-Podilskyj, Khmelnytskyi oblast, UkraineSize matrix: approx. 4 x 3,5 x 1,5 cmSize head: 2 x 2 cmEurypterids, also known as sea scorpions because of their pointed tails, evolved in the Ordovician. They were the dominant predators of the Upper Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Devonian seas and reached their greatest species diversity at that time.The most imposing representatives of this order could grow up to 3 m long, while Balteurypterus tetragonophtalmus only reached a few modest centimetres. The large group of eurypterids possessed a fin-like, powerful last pair of legs. They had two respiratory systems - book gills and gill plates - and trace fossils show that they were quite capable of walking on land. Unfortunately, they didn't quite make the leap, because like their close relatives, the horseshoe crabs, they used the tips of their legs to chew, which is much more efficient underwater than on land. Fish also increasingly competed with them in the sea, so that they retreated to the river systems. By the Permian, there were only a few species of these presumably largest known arthropods of all time.Colors on product photos may differ from those of the original specimen for technical reasons.

A trilobite pygidium and cephalon, exceptionally well preserved on little matrix, very detailed.Age: Ordovician, Sandbian, Letna Fm;Locality: Beroun, Czech RepublicSize: Cephalon - 4 x 2 x 1 cmColors on photos may differ slightly from the original due to technical reasons.

Extremely rare!Currently: Arachnomorpha, order Cheloniellida Duslia insignis was first identified in 1893 on the basis of specimens from the upper Ordovician of the Letná Formation in the Prague Basin in Bohemia. Originally they were classified as polyplacophorous molluscs, but later this species was recognized as an arthropod and assigned to the burlingid trilobites. In the late 1980s, Chlupác considered Duslia to be a representative of the chelonielids, which are located between the "trilobitomorphs" and the chelicerates. Further studies argued for a phylogenetic link to the chelicerates (cf. Van Roy, 2006). Over the years, several hundred specimens have been offered for sale, mainly from the Djebel Tijarfaïouine in the El Caïd Rami region of Morocco. These specimens show only minor compaction or deformation and are fully articulated. The original cuticula has been replaced by a thick mineralization that ranges in color from pink to reddish-brown. The digestive tract is often visible, as in this case.The positive and negative impression of this specimen have been preserved. It is unaltered, no color enhancement or retouching!Age: Upper Ordovician, Sandbian;Locality: Bou Nemrou, El Caïd Rami, MoroccoSize fossil: 10 x 7 cm; matrix: approx. 17 x 15 x 4 cmColors in product photos may differ from those of the original specimen for technical reasons.

Very nice specimen!A whole trilobite, a positive and negative and an additional head on the backside of the positive.Age: Upper Ordovician, Lower Ashgill, Ktaoua group, Upper Argillite FormationLocality: Tazzarine des Aït-Atta, Tarhbalt (Maïder), Anti-Atlas region, MoroccoSize of the matrix: 4.5 x 4 x 1.5 cmSize of the trilobite: 4.3 x 2.5 cmThe colors of the original may differ slightly from those of the pictures due to technical reasons.

Period: Lower Ordovician, Floian;Location: AustraliaDimensions: 11.2 x 6 x 1.2 cmTetragraptus approximatus is a species of dichograptid belonging to the genus Tetragraptus. It lived during the Floian stage (477.1 million years ago) of the Ordovician period. It is an important index fossil in biostratigraphy. The general shape of each Tetragraptus approximatus colony (rhabdosome) is very distinctive. It resembles a long, narrow letter H or X. The central stalk (the funiculus) is about 2.5 mm long, with each end branching off at a right angle to the other. Each pair of branches (stipes) bends sharply away from the ends of the funiculus and then runs more or less parallel to each other at a distance of 5 to 8 mm. Each of the stalks can reach a length of more than 45 mm (1.8 inches), with about ten cup-like structures (thecae) present per 10 mm (0.39 inches) of the stalk. The thecae are inclined at an angle of 45° to the axis.The colors on the pictures may differ slightly from the original due to technical reasons.

Typical trilobite on matrix from Sweden.Age: Ordovician, Llanvirnian;Locality: Yxhult quarry, Örebro, Sweden;Size fossil: 5.5 x 3.5 cm ; matrix: 5 x 7 cmColors on our photos may differ slightly from those of the original specimen due to technical reasons.

Steinkern of a plane-spiral, loosely coiled sea snail.In addition to some burrows and shell remains of smaller molluscs, dendrites can also be seen.Age: Ordovician;Locality:  Wykoff, Fillmore County, Minnesota, USASize: 6.5 cmColors on product photos may differ slightly from the original specimen due to technical reasons.

Small, extremely detailed positiv and negativ preserved trilobites from  the preserve deposit of the Letna Formation in Bohemia, displaying the typically vibrant orange coloring. The rostral plate and cheeks (librigena) form a wide and flat marginal surface freckled with small pustules. Deanaspis often appears in association with the more common Dalmatina, both of which thrived in a shallow marine community. Its wide shape ensured that it did not sink into the soft sediment.Age: Ordovician, Sandbian, Letna Fm.;Locality: Prague, Czech RepublicSize: fossil: approx. 1,2 x 1 cm; slab: approx. 7 x 10  cmThe original specimen may differ slightly in color from the pictures showed here due to technical reasons.

A typical taphocenosis: A collection of fossilized organism remains embedded in the same geological layer. It provides important insights into palaeoecology and the conditions under which fossils evolved.On display are tentaculites, brachiopods, crinoids and various corals.It can certainly be prepared and some additional fossils can be brought out, but even without preparation it is already a showpiece.Age: Middle OrdovicianLocality: Gotland, SwedenSize: approx. 28 x 18 x 2.5 cmColors on photos may differ slightly from those of the original specimen for technical reasons.

On display are fossilized feeding holes of unknown animals, which burrowed in arcs through the seabed searching for food.Further information in German on the formation of the trace fossil can be found here: SpurenfossilAge: Lower Ordovician, O. Tremadoc, Phycodes Shale;Locality: Saalfeld, Thuringian Forest, GermanySize: 9,5 x 5,5 x 2,3 cmColors on our photos may differ slightly from those of the original specimen due to technical reasons.

Period: Ordovician, Llandeilo;Location: Valongo, PortugalSize: 19 cm x 13,5 x 4 cmTrilobite: 3,5 x 5 cmThe colours of the images may differ from those of the original. 

Period: Ordovician, Llandeilo;Location: Valongo, PortugalSize: 13 cm x 11 cm x 2,5 cmTrilobite: 4,5 x 7 cmThe colours of the images may differ from those of the original. 

Rust-brown large trilobite on a massive stone block, which also contains gastropods of the genus Platyceras and brachiopods.Ectillaenus giganteus was buoyant and an active predator.Age: Middle Ordovician, Llandeilo (correlates with Darriwilium)Locality: Ciudad Real, SpainSize trilobite: 6 cm; matrix: 15 x 9 x 6 cmColors on photos may differ slightly from the original due to technical reasons.   

Light brown, almost pastry-colored large trilobite standing out beautifully from the mica-rich, silvery-grey silt matrix, which makes it popular with collectors. The deformation is tectonic and characteristic of this species from this region.The genus was buoyant and an active predator.Age: Middle Ordovician, Llandeilo (correlates with Darriwilium);Locality: Valongo, Norte region, PortugalSize trilobite: 8 cm; matrix: 13.5 x 10 Colors in photos may differ slightly from the original for technical reasons.   

Trilobite fragments of the genera Acidopsis sp. and Nieszbowskia sp. & Pygidien Asaphus sp. on kukkersite matrix.Age: Middle Ordovician;Location: Kohtla järvi, EstoniaMatrix size: 7 x 6 cm;   Colors on product photos may differ slightly from those of the original specimen for technical reasons.

Very nice specimen! With numerous trilobite remains.Age: Upper Lower Ordovician, Llandeilium;Locality: Llandrindod Wells, County Powys, Wales, Great BritainSize/matrix: approx. 16 x 11 x 2 cmColors on product photos may differ slightly from those of the original specimen due to technical reasons.