Name:
Hyolithes cecrops Age: Middle Cambrian Formation: Wheeler Shale (Red Zone) Location: Millard County, Utah Size: Plate is 4.9 inches tall This specimen is not for sale Click here for similar specimens that are for sale
This is a very interesting fossil. It is an association of Hyolithes cecrops and Elrathia kingi from the Middle Cambrian of Utah. Hyolithes has remained an enigma since the beginning of modern scientific description. Authorities are unsure of where it belongs in a classification of the invertebrates. It may be related to mollusks but in a separate phylum. Hyolithids have also been found in the famous Burgess Shale. This specimen is nicely preserved and exhibits fine detail. The conical shape of the organism is beautifully displayed, and the textured pattern is quite evident. The Elrathia has great dark color and nice contrast and is well showcased on the large plate of shale that also contains some algae. This is a very unusual association of this problematic fossil and trilobite.