Trilobites (Latin Tres - Three, Lobus - Share)

Trilobites (Latin Tres - Three, Lobus - Share) are marine arthropods that lived during the Paleozoic era, from approximately 540 to 245 million years ago. These organisms were among the first animals to produce a hard endoskeleton, and they are among the most common and extensive groups of fossil animals to have existed on Earth.

Trilobites had a characteristic body shape that was divided into three segments: the head, thorax and pygidium. The head contained eyes, and the thorax consisted of many segments, each of which had a pair of legs and was covered with a shell. The pygidium was the last segment of the body and contained the anus and shell.

One of the most amazing features of trilobites was that their dorsal surface of the body was divided into three sections by three longitudinal grooves. Each of these areas had its own function, and together they provided trilobites with excellent maneuverability and the ability to detect predators and food.

Trilobites were true predators, and they fed on a variety of small sea creatures such as mollusks, crustaceans and worms. Some species of trilobites have grown to impressive sizes, reaching a length of 70 cm and a weight of 7 kg.

However, despite their size and power, trilobites could not survive to this day. They became extinct at the end of the Paleozoic era, approximately 245 million years ago, along with many other animal groups, in catastrophic events that led to mass extinction.

Today, trilobites remain one of the most interesting and studied groups of fossil animals, and their remains are found on every continent. Their study helps scientists better understand the evolution of life on Earth and its history.