Dalmanites myops

Complete trilobites are uncommon finds. Much more common are the separated fragments of exoskeleton left when the creature moulted. Dalmanites was a small trilobite that probably forraged on the sea bottom. Because of the need to watch for larger preditors it developed very keen eyesight.

This is a magnified view of the compound eye of Dalmanites. Even after 400 million years, some details of the complex structure is still visible. Because of the simicircular curvature and conical shape of this trilobites eyes it would have had a complete view of its surroundings. The streamline shape of its body implies that it could burrow into the sand on the approach of a preditor.