17 Across

NYT Daily ? September 19, 2025

Ancient creepy-crawlies

Answer:

TRILOBITES

Hint:

These extinct marine arthropods thrived over 300 million years ago and left behind distinctive three-lobed fossils.

Explanation:

"Ancient creepy-crawlies" points to trilobites, which were prehistoric sea creatures that scuttled along the ocean floor over 300 million years ago. The term "creepy-crawlies" is a playful nod to their many-legged, bug-like appearance, even though they weren’t insects. Think of them as the fossilized cousins of modern arthropods, often found in rocks and famous for their three-lobed bodies.

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General solving tip

Match the clue's grammar: plural with plural, past with past. If the clue ends in 's' or uses a past-tense verb, mirror that form in the entry.

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