Trilobites existed as the dominant ocean lifeform for more than 270 million years, serving as both predator and prey to different species of their family. With over 22,000 different species of trilobite, they varied wildly in both shape and niche, from the largest recorded, Isotellus rex, measuring 28 inches long, to the smallest Acanthopleurella, at only 1.5 millimeters. Understandably, due to the sheer diversity of life and beauty within this group, some individuals’ve dedicated their entire collections to focus solely on trilobites.
