This is the "Fossil Friday" post #231. 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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Ah, the Blob! Did you see Mazon Monday #227 a few weeks ago?... That post was called "Ode to a Blob". Essexella asherae is a classic Mazon Creek fossil. It was described in 1979 and named for Helen Asher, a prolific Mazon Creek collector (see Fossil Friday #158). Helen was known to autograph the back of Essexella concretions.
There's been some recent controversy around the Blob, is it a sea anemone or is it a jellyfish? Can we call it a "jellenome" (see Mazon Monday #155)? There's still quite a bit of discussion. Roy Plotnick did a great job making his case at the 2022 Mazon Creek Open House.
This beautiful specimen has quite a bit of detail. The photos were sent in by Peter Rock Jr. You've probably heard of his grandfather Richard Rock, one of the Mazon Creek old timers, who has been an ESCONI member for almost as long. Specimens really look like a jellyfish... or do they? Send us what you think at [email protected]
Thanks for sharing, Pete!
