This is the "Fossil Friday" post #68. 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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Being soft bodied makes jellyfish extremely rare in the fossil record. So, it's interesting that the most common fossil in the Essex Biota of the Mazon Creek fossil deposit is the jellyfish Essexella asherae, which was named for amateur collector Helen Asher. They come in many shapes and sizes. We did a Species Spotlight for E. Asherae back in Mazon Monday #14. For Fossil Friday this week, we have a few concretions with multiple Essexella asherae.
This double specimen is from ESCONI member Chris Berg. Thanks, Chris!
Here is a triple specimen found last year in Pit 11.
And, a couple more foundthis year, also from Pit 11.
