Trilobites in Delta, UT

7 Nov 1998

<- Prev | Next ->

Trilobites appeared during the Cambrian period, 543 million years ago. They are very distant relatives of insects, spiders and crabs. They had many joints that allowed them to bend or roll up like "rolly polly" bugs to protect themselves. Trilobites had no jaws. They "chewed" with spines on their legs close to their bodies which trapped small creatures. As a trilobite moved, its legs would grind the food and pass it along a groove under its body leading into its mouth.

Because of evolutionary changes, there were many variations of trilobites over the millenia. They didn't become extinct until the end of the Paleozoic Era, 250 million years ago.

Links: (See below for resources you can buy online)

• Trilobite at Denver Museum
• Trilobites.com
• Introduction to Trilobita - UC Berkeley

This privately owned site is such a rich source of trilobite fossils. We searched for only about an hour and brought back over 100 specimens. It was common to sit in one spot, splitting open layers of shale, and glance around and find three or four trilobites just lying on the surface of the piles. It was cold, but the excitement of finding so many so quickly kept us going. It was well worth the 20-mile dirt road drive.

"It took me a while to find my first trilobite, but soon I was finding one about every 10 seconds. I found so many, I quit early to get warmed up in Grandpa's car." --Harrison

Once the kids knew what they were looking for, they found many great fossils. They ranged from tiny 1/4-inch creatures, up to 2-inch long "giants". Sometimes many would be found clustered together, and some of the large ones had additional imprints on the same rock, sometimes on the bottom.

"I thought it was very, very fun digging for trilobites. Each time I walked I might have stepped on a trilobite. I had to be careful." --Amanda

Our nice grandpa brought along a Dutch oven dinner of chicken with potatoes and rolls that cooked while we searched for trilobites. It was the perfect way to end our chilly expedition.

"Grandpa's food was very delicious." --Amanda

"I'm pretty glad that I got warm food when it was freezing cold and we were 20 miles from our motorhome." --Harrison

Resources
Try out some of these recommendations for your own learning activities.
Everytime you purchase something from one of our merchants you help keep Learning Family going. Thanks!

Volcanoes, Dinosaurs & Fossils by Wild Goose

Get involved with this kit. Learn about volcanoes, examine some real fossils, and make a steamy fumarole.

The Fossil Trail : How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution
by Ian Tattersall

A complete review of the history of evolution. Fascinating tale of fossil discoveries, their interpretations and misinterpretations.