BIRUG 6001 Acidaspis coronatus - Trilobite

3D Model

BIRUG 6001 is a Silurian-aged Trilobite, from Dudley, England. This species hails from the same quarry as the famous “Dudley Bug” (Calymene blumenbachii). While related to the Dudley Bug, this species has several long, curved spines along the sides of its body. These spines likely developed because they helped protect trilobites from predators. There are other speculated uses such as, swimming rudders to help propel the animal through the water or acting as additional sensory organs to detect more of its surroundings. Many other species in the genus Acidaspis also possess long, spines along the sides of their bodies.

This specimen was collected from the Much Wenlock Limestone Formation in Dudley, England and was purchased from Charles Ketley in 1880; it now forms part of the Museum’s Ketley Collection. Scanning was performed by Amir Rahman using an Artec Spider 3D scanner. Description by Jonathan Kimel.