Travels with Trilobites: Adventures in the Paleozoic

Secher, a paleontology field associate at the American Museum of Natural History, shares his passion for trilobites in his eye-opening debut. These marine arthropods existed for more than 250 million years; by the dawn of the Cambrian Period 521 million years ago, they “were already advanced organisms possessing hard protective exoskeletons, complex digestive systems, and highly developed eyes.” Before they went extinct at the end of the Permian Period, they had evolved into over 25,000 species: some resembled a “hydrodynamic rocket ship,” others a “primordial meatloaf.” Secher uses fossils to make guesses about the trilobites’ behaviors, including feeding patterns (possibly cannibalistic) and lifestyle habits (“highly communal”). He succeeds in making the fossilized creatures relevant to the modern world—some scientists believe that trilobites’ massive excrement production “generated enough fertilizer to provide primitive plant life with the needed impetus to develop and expand its realm.” Indeed, he writes, “if it wasn’t for primitive trilobite[s]... Earth’s early faunal and floral experiments may have ended in a far more abrupt and dire fashion.” The 300 photos, largely derived from Secher’s private collection, are a plus. Natural history nuts will gain a new appreciation for these prehistoric creatures thanks to this awe-inspiring survey. Photos. (May)