This is "Fossil Friday" post #131. 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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Who doesn't love a Tully Monster?... especially a stunning one?!? This Tully was found in Pit 11 by ESCONI member Gary Crouse, He showed it to me at the Mazon Creek Open House and I just couldn't resist getting a photo for Fossil Friday. Just in case you are new to Mazon Creek fossils... or were living under a rock or even in a concretion, Tullymonstrum gregarium is the State Fossil of Illinois. It was described in 1966 by Eugene Richardson of the Field Museum. Victoria McCoy gave a great presentation at the Mazon Creek Open House last Saturday.
This is an absolutely beautiful specimen! It has quite a bit of detail! The eye bar is there along with some very nice muscle banding. If you look close, some of the proboscis is there with some probably under the unexposed corner of the concretion. I think Gary said it was one of his first Pit 11 finds... Boy, I've heard that too many times. I'm sure my first 100 Pit 11 fossils were jellies! Thanks for sharing, Gary!
