Bolaspidella housensis

Name: Bolaspidella housensis

Age: wheeler shale formation, cambrian

Origin: Delta, Millard County, Utah, USA

Size: 1.5 cm

Matrix: 13 x 7 cm

Bolaspidella is a genus of trilobites that lived during the Middle Cambrian period, approximately 505-509 million years ago. It is one of the many trilobite genera found in the Wheeler Shale Formation, a well-known rock formation located in western Utah that is famous for its rich and diverse assemblage of trilobite fossils.

Bolaspidella is characterized by its relatively small size and distinctive shape, with a narrow, elongated head shield and a broad, oval-shaped tail. Its body was covered in a hard exoskeleton, which would have provided protection from predators and environmental hazards.

Trilobites like Bolaspidella are important index fossils for geologists and paleontologists, as they can be used to date rock formations and reconstruct ancient ecosystems. The Wheeler Shale Formation is particularly significant in this regard, as it contains an exceptionally well-preserved and diverse assemblage of trilobites, along with other fossils such as brachiopods, sponges, and algae.