Time Travelers in Stone: What Are Trilobites?

Fossil Huntress — Palaeo Sommelier

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Welcome to The Fossil Huntress Podcast—your window into the deep time of ancient oceans, lost worlds, and beautiful traces left behind.

I'm your host, Heidi Henderson, coming to you from the rain-kissed coastline of British Columbia on Canada's far western shores.

Today on the show, we’re diving into one of the most iconic fossils of all time: trilobites—those segmented, alien-looking creatures that once ruled our ancient seas.

So grab a cup of something warm, cozy up, and let’s take a journey—travelling in time way back more than half a billion years.

Highlights from the Show...

One of the most famous trilobite sites in the world is Burgess Shale in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. While the Burgess is better known for its soft-bodied creatures like Anomalocaris and Hallucigenia, it also preserved some incredibly detailed trilobites, like Olenoides serratus.

You can actually see their legs preserved—a rare thing in the fossil record!

Farther east, in Manitoba, you’ll find Isotelus rex, the largest complete trilobite ever discovered. This big boy stretched 70 centimeters long—over two feet! Isotelus roamed the ancient Ordovician seas that once covered much of central Canada. Imagine snorkeling and coming face-to-face with one of those…

Fun Trilobite Facts

Trilobites were among the first animals to develop complex eyes. Some had excellent vision, while others were blind—adapted to deep, dark ocean floors.

They molted their exoskeletons like modern-day crabs. That’s why we find so many trilobite fossils—many are actually molted skins, not full bodies.Some species rolled up into tight balls, just like modern pill bugs—a defense mechanism against predators.

Over 20,000 species of trilobites have been identified, making them one of the most diverse fossil groups ever.

Wrap UpTrilobites are more than just pretty fossils; they’re storytellers, time travelers in stone. And they continue to surprise us.If you ever find yourself walking an ancient seafloor—maybe on the shores of Newfoundland, the cliffs of Anticosti Island, or the dry bed of a long-gone sea in Manitoba—keep your eyes open. You might just meet a trilobite, frozen mid-crawl in a 400-million-year-old journey.Thanks for joining me, my fossil friends. Until next time, keep seeking, keep wondering, and keep listening to the whispers of the stone.

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