The unique fossilization process has led to the 3D preservation of trilobite fossils, according to the researchers.
Until now, a comprehensive scientific study of the trilobites’ diverse group has been limited by the relative scarcity of soft tissue preservation.Artistic reconstruction of 2 species of tribolite an instant before burial in a flow of volcanic ash . The fossil recovered .The well-preserved and three-dimensional fossils recovered from the High Atlas of Morocco are being referred to as ‘Pompeii’ trilobites by researchers due to their exceptional quality.
“The ash molds preserved each segment of their bodies, their legs and even the hair-like structures that ran along the appendages. The trilobites’ digestive tract was also preserved after it filled with ash. Even small ‘lamp shells’ attached to the trilobites’ exoskeleton remained attached by fleshy stalks as they were in life,” the
“I’ve seen a lot of soft anatomy of trilobites, but it’s the 3D preservation here that is truly astounding.”Using CT scanning and computer modeling of virtual X-ray slices, the researchers discovered that appendages found at the edge of the mouth had curved spoon-like bases but were so small that they had gone undetected in less perfectly preserved fossils.
Lead author, Professor Abderrazak El Albani, said, “I think pyroclastic deposits should become new targets for study, given their exceptional potential for trapping and preserving biological remains, including delicate soft tissues.”
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