Phacops Rana - Phacopid Eyes

Phacopid Eyes

The most striking feature of the morphology of Phacops rana and its relatives is their eyes. These differed from the eyes of most trilobites in having comparatively few lenses spaced between deep sclera. The lenses themselves were very rounded instead of largely flat. The eyes were mounted on turret-like structures which could swivel, providing the animal with an almost 360 degree field of view. This type of eye is known as the schizochroal eye.