How Crystal Eyes Changed the Evolution of Arthropods

Trilobites was the longest-reigning armored sea-floor arthropod that ever lived — and the story of how eyes with lenses made of solid calcite crystal may — or may not — explain the longest reign of any animal group explains exactly why it vanished. In this episode: Trilobites, from about 520 to 250 million years ago, across the whole Paleozoic, how eyes with lenses made of solid calcite crystal may — or may not — explain the longest reign of any animal group, and why it matters for horseshoe crabs and other arthropods still on the sea floor today. Chapters: 00:00 A quarter-billion-year reign, ended in a moment 00:23 promise 00:55 evidence 02:24 hypothesis 03:47 contested 05:12 resolution Sources & further reading: Beaty Biodiversity Museum — Trilobite eyes are hard (calcite lenses) — https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/2017/10/26... An overview on trilobite eyes and their functioning (ScienceDirect, 2021) — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... Sam Noble Museum — The End-Permian Extinction (the Great Dying) — https://samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/underst... Live Science — Why did trilobites go extinct? — https://www.livescience.com/why-trilo... Related episodes: More Lost Creatures deep dives — coming soon Disclosure: This video contains AI-generated and AI-restored footage (hero shots) and AI-synthesized narration. Diagrams are original. / AI復元映像 #Trilobites #Paleontology #Evolution