How to recognise them

Lots of segments, body divided into three sections lengthwise by two deep grooves in the skeleton.

Fossil Info

Trilobites are a very important group of fossils that evolved during the Cambrian Period (approx 520 million years ago) and went extinct at the end of the Permian period around 250 million years ago. They are arthropods and look like woodlice, but they lived in the sea and their closest living relatives are horseshoe crabs, spiders and sea spiders. Some trilobites crawled on the sea floor, whereas others burrowed into the sand and mud on the sea floor or swam. Many trilobites were filter feeders but others fed on food particles on the sea floor. 

Fun Fact

Trilobites could curl up into a ball for protection like woodlice.

Find out more about Trilobites here