Besides Drotops megalomanicus and the spiny species Drotops armatus, Pedinopariops (Hypsipariops) vagabundus occurs as a relatively smooth-shelled representative of the “giant phacopids” in the Devonian of Morocco. This very specimen comes like most of the finds of Hypsipariops from Jbel el Mrakib. They are characterized by a thick and well preserved shell, which impresses especially by its large pores and often excellently preserved eyes. 

The preparation varies in difficulty depending on the degree of weathering of the rock. In places, the rock separates very well from the shell, whereas a few millimeters further on, however, it can be quite sticky. Therefore, the preparation must be done carefully and cautiously so as not to damage the shell. Cleaning the deep furrows between the pleurae and lenses can be very challenging at times. This specimen is particularly well preserved. The broken pleural tips left and right just before the pygidium could be signs of a failed moult.

Fossil: Pedinopariops (Hypsipariops) vagabundus 

Locality: Jbel el Mrakib (Morocco)

Formation: Middle Devonian, Lower Givetian

Length of the trilobite: about 4 inches (10 cm)

Work required: 20 hours