Trilobites were a highly sophisticated group of organisms that were very successful during the Paleozoic Era. They are an extinct group of arthropods that mainly inhabited shallow sea-floors and reefs. All arthropods are covered by a chitinous exoskeleton with joints for flexibility. Living arthropods include insects, spiders, crabs, and the like.
Trilobites were extremely advanced for their time. They were the first known animals to have the use of eyes, some very complex in later species. The name "trilobite" refers to the "three lobes," or longitudinal body sections characteristic of all trilobites. Trilobites can also be divided along their width into three body segments known as the cephalon (head region), the thorax (mid-section), and the pygidium (tail region). They also had many legs, each equipped with a set of gills that seldom fossilized.
Scientists believe that the first trilobites appeared 570 million years ago at the beginning of the Cambrian Period. Trilobites became very numerous and advanced, reaching their zenith during the Ordovician Period. Several major extinctions reduced the number of species until the last remaining trilobites became extinct at the end of the Permian Period, 230 million years ago. Fossilized trilobites have become a valuable tool in helping scientists determine the ages of certain rock units.
The three species of trilobites represented on this piece (Asaphopsis brevica, Psilocephalina lubrica, and Yuepingia sp.) are approximately 500 million years old from the Early Ordovician Period. The original fossil was found near Yongshun, China, in the Hunan Province.
Identification by J.S. Hollingsworth
Trilobite Plate - China 
Quantity in Basket: None
Code: ART-100
Price: $224.50
Shipping Weight: 4.09 pounds
Species: Asaphopses brevica (3-partial), Psilocephalina lubrica (3-complete, 1 partial), Yuepringia sp. (9-complete).
Time: Early Ordovician approximately 500 million years ago.
Location: Yincufu Series, Hunan Province, China
Dimensions: 22-1/2" x 15" x 1"