This is the "Fossil Friday" post #67. Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website. We will post any fossil pictures you send in to [email protected]. Please include a short description or story. Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!
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Back to Mazon Creek for this weeks Fossil Friday. This is Esconichthys apopyris, the most common aquatic vertebrate found in the Mazon Creek Biota, It was named for ESCONI in 1974 by the late Dr David Bardack of the Field Museum and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The classification of this species is somewhat problematical. It's a cordate of some type, some have proposed a larval lungfish, but a larval amphibian has also been discussed. To collectors, these guys are referred to as the "Blade". This particular specimen was opened via freeze/thaw about a year ago, with the process taking about 50 cycles. The eyes are the most identifiable feature of Esconichthys.
