Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Intriguing Trilobite. Six hundred million years ago a modest-sized sea creature Evolutionarily emerged onto earth's oceanic stage. This creature was first 'discovered' in the 17th century, By an Englishman, who noticed a body divided into three segments. He designated this group improperly, but named them TRIlobites, Because of the three basic portions of the shelled body. That name has stuck for this generally well-known fossil group. Over the 270 million years' reign, 25,000 various species evolved. Those who are familiar with the wonderful morphology of these Arthropods, The majority would not be able to describe the ventral side of this creature, As the lower portion of soft parts almost never were fossilized. After studying this group for a while, Curiosity overcame me and I had to investigate. No wonder only a very few ventral fossilizations have been observed-- There are a mass of legs, two antennae, mouth parts-- Mostly soft structures which normally do not fossilize. Being a biologist, 'discovering' a new view on life, I experienced here one of those 'highs of discovery'. These are the things that can give discerning and inquisitive humans A feeling of worth and joy by being a thinking and discovering person. Frank Maurer 3 July 2025 1935 Hours.