This is an exceedingly rare species, and the first specimen known to be found with spines intact. At 82 mm, it is also very large for a lower Cambrian Olenellid. Trilobites classified in the family Holmiidae are only known from the early Cambrian. Esmeraldina is among the early trilobites. Soon after trilobites appeared in the lower Cambrian, they rapidly radiated among the primary trilobites in the Cambrian, the Redlichiida, Ptychopariida, Agnostida and Corynexochida.

Also see: Nevada Trilobites