Direct evidence has now been found to show that trilobites — among the most diverse of fossil animal groups — were eaten by other ancient sea creatures.
Scientists discovered cracked trilobite body parts in the gut of a 510-million-year-old fossil marine animal…
“There are a variety of other explanations for the presence of the trilobite parts in the gut of this fossil. But they are all less probable than the simplest one, which was that they were actually eating these things.”
…Other, indirect evidence of predation on trilobites has been known for some time.
Bite marks in the animals are common, with many more appearing on the right-hand side than the left-hand side — an observation that has not yet been fully resolved. [Rincon]
Rincon, Paul. “Trilobite was ancient snack food.” BBC News. 14 April 2004. <news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3622091.stm> (14 April 2004).