Asaphiscus wheeleri

Name: Asaphiscus wheeleri 

Age: wheeler shale formation, cambrian

Origin: Delta, Millard County, Utah, USA

Size: 3.6 cm

Matrix: 27 x 17 cm

Asaphiscus wheeleri is a species of trilobite that lived during the Middle Cambrian period, about 505 million years ago. It is commonly found in the Wheeler Shale formation in Utah, which is known for its exceptionally preserved fossils. The Wheeler Shale formation is located in the House Range of western Utah and was deposited in a shallow sea that covered much of North America during the Middle Cambrian period.

Asaphiscus wheeleri is characterized by its large size, flattened shape, and distinctive spines on the front and rear of its body. It likely lived on the seafloor and was an active predator, feeding on small invertebrates and other trilobites.

The Wheeler Shale formation is known for its exceptional preservation of soft-bodied organisms, as well as trilobites like Asaphiscus wheeleri. The fine-grained shale sediment of the formation helped to preserve delicate structures such as gills, antennae, and legs. The fossils found in the Wheeler Shale have provided important insights into the evolution of life during the Middle Cambrian period.