Description
Boedaspis ensifer
Trilobite Order Odontopleurida, Family Odontopleuridae
Geological Time: Lower Ordovician
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Trilobite is 55 mm long by 45 mm wide (including spines) on a 155 by 143 mm matrix.
Fossil Site: Pulitovo Quarry, Wolchow River Region, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Fossil Code: RUT382
Coming from the nearly half billion year old Lower Ordovician deposits of the Wolchow River Region of Russia, this is Boedaspis ensifer. I termed the last one the “Emperror of Trilobites” due to its stunning presence. With rarity and expenditure of countless hours of prep time comes a concomitant price, one that has stayed relatively constant for the decade in which they have been available. As a member of the family Odontopleuridae it shares a relationship with the spiny Devonian trilobites Ceratonurus, Dicranurus and Koneprusia, but far outclasses them all. The first example of this taxon I had displayed only the scimitar-shaped occipital spines preserved free of matrix, this one goes farther to demonstrate the craft of the foremost paleontological preparation laboratory of Russia showing no less than the next dozen major spines also prepared freestanding. This one took in excess of 150 hours to prepare. Restoration is minimal, and is primarily related to the fact that the major spines were removed to facilitate preparation, and then reattached when the underlying exoskeleton was exposed. It comes wired into a wooden shipping box. I have attached a couple of photos of it safely installed ready for shipping. I used primarily pre-shipment photos to show this one off. With all the spines it would take the steady hands of a bomb disposal expert to free it from the wires securing it, and I thought discretion would be the better part of valor in that regards. Nevertheless you can see what a stunning specimen it is from all aspects.
See also Russian Trilobites.
