Trilobites have unique eyes formed from calcite prisms. I heard a rumor that some of these lenses are so well presevered that they could be used for camera lenses.
2006-07-27 14:16:11 · 3 answers · asked by xcaptain_kennedyx 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I should make clear that I am refering to their fossilized eyes.
2006-07-27 14:23:14 · update #1
Well you could but you don't normally get that kind of detail and if I recall calcite replacement is not likely to occur for soft parts like eyes. There are some amazing looking trilobite eyes in the fossil record but you don't as a rule use them for more than studying trilobites. Besides they're so tiny why would you use them for that? (I'm going for an average trilobite. I know some were larger)
2006-07-27 17:10:59 · answer #1 · answered by bunny_952000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm. I could see calcite prisms in fossil trilobites, but never heard of that proposed in a living one. As far as know, horseshoe crabs (probably their closest living ancestors) have normal, compound eyes.
2006-07-27 14:22:05 · answer #2 · answered by Skeff 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i doubt it
2006-07-27 16:26:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋