Search the Community

Hello, first post, so apologies in advance for any unintended transgressions. I found this one in Big Brook, New Jersey among the plethora of trace fossils usually attributed to shrimp, that are usually disregarded by most hunters here. (I personally find them kind of interesting, and have a lot of fun when I bring them home and tell my wife they are "witch's fingers.") Usually the tube is more rounded and longer and yes, "finger-like." This one is tear shaped and flat on one side. I have seen similar shaped fossils online attributed to insects. There is also an old post here of a similar fossil thought to be the work of a clam. I am just wondering if anyone has another opinion before I slap a label on it and put it back with the other witch's fingers...I mean shrimp burrows. (Sorry not a very exciting first post.) I'm also wondering if there is a more definite classification. I've heard they might be something called a ghost shrimp, which also sounds rather spooky. OK I see missed some info here and sorry for the lack of metric measurements I sometimes forget how primitive we are here (and then I watch the news and it all comes rushing back.) Item is approximately 7.5 CM. Big Brook is a stream located in Colt's Neck Township, Middlesex County, NJ. It's a hot spot for Shark's teeth, mosasaur teeth and an occasional cephalopod part. This was pulled from the river bed itself.