Trilobites - fossils of an extinct arthropod

In Girl in the Glass, the only personal item Declan takes from his hotel room is an intact trilobite fossil. He is very proud of this nearly intact specimen, bringing it along on his journey to complete the second half of the Hesperus prophecy. Perhaps his decision to choose the trilobite fossil will be important as events unfold.

Trilobites are an extinct marine arthropods, ending their long reign during the Permian mass extinction event 250 million years ago, when 80% of marine species met a similar demise. Trilobites existed in oceans for almost 270 million years, making it one of Earth’s most successful marine species. They are a popular fossil to collect because of their calcite exoskeleton, helping them survive well in the fossil record.

If you are interested in collecting your own trilobites, one of the best public fossil sites is Penn Dixie, located in Hamburg, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. As a Western New York resident, I have been many times and have a menagerie of nearly-intact trilobites (nothing as perfect as Declan’s specimen)! These trilobites are 380 million years old and were deposited when Buffalo was 30 degrees south of the equator and completely covered in water.

Artist’s rendering of trilobites

Fossilized trilobites

Hunting for trilobite fossils - Penn Dixie