Trilobite Fossils Unveil New Insights into Defensive Enrollment

A rare specimen found in Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology has provided new insights into how trilobites curled themselves into a ball for protection. Using micro-CT scanning, researchers were able to study the internal organs of the ancient sea creature, revealing the interaction between its stomach plates and appendages. The study showed that trilobites flexed their entire bodies to allow for rolling, with the plates sliding past each other and locking in place. This mechanism is similar to that observed in modern enrolling creatures like pill bugs and armadillos.