The discovery of ten new species of trilobites in a little-studied region of Thailand, hidden for 490 million years, offers valuable insights into ancient world geography.

Trilobites are extinct sea creatures known for their half-moon-shaped heads and breathing through their legs.

These fossils were preserved between layers of petrified ash in sandstone, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions that settled on the sea floor, creating a green layer called a tuff.

The tuffs, rich in zircon crystals, provide a means to date the fossils and eruptions accurately. In this case, the foѕѕіɩѕ were found in tuffs from the late Cambrian period, approximately 497 to 485 million years ago. This time period is rarely represented in tuffs, making the findings significant for dating similar fossils worldwide.

The fossils were discovered on the coast of Ko Tarutao, an island southwest of the mainland, as part of a UNESCO geopark site. The region was situated on the outer margins of Gondwanaland during the trilobites’ existence, providing clues to the Earth’s shifting continents.

The discovery connects Thailand to other parts of Gondwanaland, such as Australia, aiding scientists in reconstructing the ancient supercontinent’s puzzle.

The researchers named one trilobite species, Tsinania sirindhornae, in honor of Thai Royal Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her dedication to developing the sciences in Thailand.

The study of these fossils contributes to our understanding of evolutionary changes and extinctions, providing a valuable record of Earth’s history.

The researchers emphasize the importance of learning from this record to better address contemporary challenges on the planet.