Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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A Rusophycus. As I now age, I find I need to rest occasionally. A baby also needs rest, and the elderly follow the same pattern. My interest in Trilobites was at first Limited to a collection of various Trilobite specimens. One day I discovered a resting place or burrow (Rusophycus) fossil. Its form is a rounded, elongated fossil mound. The specimens available are relatively scarce, but now that I am aware, I come across a number of these wonderful specimens online. Of course, as said, I now need rest, just as much as the Trilobite! Trilobites rested, but also would settle down into the mud to hide from predators, Such as the voracious Eurypterids or 'sea scorpions'. ('Rusophycus is the resting/ feeding activity trace of the once present animal, recording the outline of the trace maker, in this case the Trilobite. On occasions the Cruziana will also be present; this is the trace or track, made when the organism moved to, or from, that spot.') Frank Maurer 16 October 2025 0155 Hours.