Its over! No more entries are being accepted. Here are the answers to the Questions:

1  Trilobites with reduction or loss of eyes in deep benthic habitats are referred to as:
[atheloptic]

2  Name the two orders and superfamilies of trilobites that include megopic* pelagic forms.
Asaphida (Remopleuridoidea) and Proetida (Bathyuroidea)

3  What key feature distinguishing trilobites is lacking in the Nektaspida?
Calcified exoskeleton

4  Olenids with numerous wide thoracic pleurae may have filled what trophic niche?
Hosts of chemoautotrophic bacteria as symbionts

5  Name a genus of the Calymenina that is not gonatoparian.
Bathycheilus (other correct generic names were acceptable)

6  What suborder includes species that are abathochroal?
Eodiscina of Order Agnostida

7  What Order is marked by a median ventral suture? Name an exception to this diagnostic.
Order Asaphida. Exception: secondary loss of suture in advanced forms

8  Trilobites from what formation provide an excellent example of trophic partitioning?
Pontyfenni Formation

9  Name a trilobite example of the trend of miniaturization (keep it under 2 mm, please)
Acanthopleurella (many other acceptable answers)

10 What hypostomal feature is directly associated with the antennae?
Lateral notch (the antenna passes through it)

11 Convergent evolution leads to [homeomorphy] among unrelated trilobite groups.

12 What is the german term for glabellar lobe?
Glabellalappen

13 A large trilobite with expanded glabella and conterminant hypostome probably ate:
Meat (of prey items; was predatory)

14 What suborder has non-fulcrate thoracic pleurae?
Olenellina of Order Redlichiida

15 Rounding to the nearest ten, what is the largest number of thoracic segments in a trilobite?
60

16 To what Superclass of Arthropods do trilobites belong?
Arachnomorpha

17 What are the three orders of trilobites found in the lower Cambrian?
Trick question! There are four, but any three were OK of: Agnostida, Redlichiida, Corynexochida, Ptychopariida,

18 The "librostomate" Orders share what condition?
natant hypostomal condition

19 By the end of the late Devonian, what two orders of trilobites were extant?
Phacopida and Proetida

20 Why do natant hypostomes tend to be of conservative design?
simple particle and detritus feeders had no need for elaboration of hypostome shape or size.

BONUS (worth 10 points!): email a digital image of a photograph of any complete, articulated specimen of the superfamily Dameselloidea. Pygidium-only shots do not count.
 
 

*megoptic: from mega = very large + opis=eye

Here are the winners:

1st: Beautiful large (8 cm) specimen of Ectillaenus giganteus, and a nice Russian Asaphus sp (my choice), signed copy of the 90 page folio adaptation of the Guide to the Orders of Trilobites (including pdf version on CD-ROM). Winner: Mike Eberhard, who did not get all answers correct, BUT provided me with a photograph of Palaeadotes hunanensis, a Dameselloid from China, thus getting 10 extra points!

2nd: Trilobites to be determined, + signed copy of the 90 page folio adaptation of the Guide to the Orders of Trilobites (including pdf version on CD-ROM). Winner: Michael W. Kieron. Mike found the contest page and answered within a day of the contest start! Clearly I made it too easy for someone with his skills!

3rd: Signed copy of the Guide to the Orders folio, and CD-ROM. Winner: Paul Hille, from Holland. Paul has been researching trilobites for a publication of the Dutch Geological Society, so he was well-prepared to provide the answers.