This is the "Fossil Friday" post #222. 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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Today, we have a Macroneuropteris scheuchzerii from the Mazon River at the Kodat Farm locality. M. scheuchzeri is extremely common is some localities, such as the Mazon River in Morris. It was named for Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, a Swiss physician and natural scientist in the 1700's. The genus was changed from Neuropteris to Macroneuropteris in 1977 after extensive studies of European examples showed differences from Neuropteris in the frond architecture and the cuticle. For more information, see Mazon Monday #39.
This beautiful specimen has insect damage, which is not uncommon in seed fern pinnules from Mazon Creek. We received these photos from Marie Angkuw, who collected this fossil in the summer of 2023. Thanks, Marie!
