Ditomopyge decurtata    scale in cms CLASS - Trilobita ORDER - Ptychopariida FAMILY - Phillipsiidae GENUS/SPECIES - Ditomopyge decurtata ROCK UNIT - Florena Member, Beattie Formation, Council Grove Group AGE - Early Permian (275 million years old) LOCALITY - Grand Summit, Kansas, USA This specimen show a typical way in which many trilobites are preserved, with the tail rolled up tightly touching the head. Trilobites may have rolled up in order to protect their delicate legs and gills from storms, predators and other sea-floor disturbances. Some modern insects, such as "pill bugs" do the same thing. The youngest trilobite fossil in this virtual collection, specimens from Australia boast faintly preserved color spots. See another trilobite with reported color patterns. PRI 42112