This is the "Fossil Friday" post #209. 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!
-----------------------------------------------------
For this week, we have the rarest of the Mazon Creek polychaete worms. Palaeocampa anthrax described by Fielding Bradford Meek (1817-1876) and Amos Henry Worthen (1813-1888) in "Notice of some new types of organic remains from the Coal Measures of Illinois" in 1865. Currently, it is thought to be related to a group of modern day annulid worms referred to as fireworms. For more information, see Mazon Monday #187.
This concretion was collected from the Mazon River in August 2023. It was opened via freeze/thaw, after cycling since January 2024. The concretion was a bit ugly, with the shape suggesting a possible fern.
It did need a little repair, but not around the Palaeocampa.
A lucky split through the included fern, exposed the rare worm.
