Reptile like animal with biomass preserved

[Beachd]

I found this fossils in a northern Michigan riverbed.  It is 3 grams.  I don’t know what it is but there is clearly a lizard like animal with visible head and limbs and torso.  There is also a spiral fetus like fossil visible on it’s surface.  I would say 60% of this rock is preserved biomass of what looks like about 3 different specimens. 
 

I uploaded images of it dry, wet, and exposed to steam in a bathroom… 

[digit]

9 minutes ago, Beachd said:

I found this fossils in a northern Michigan riverbed.  It is 3 grams.  I don’t know what it is but there is clearly a lizard like animal with visible head and limbs and torso.  There is also a spiral fetus like fossil visible on it’s surface.  I would say 60% of this rock is preserved biomass of what looks like about 3 different specimens. 

Sorry, fossils don't work like that. What is "clearly a lizard" is the result of pareidolia. Our natural ability to see familiar shapes in random patterns.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=pareidolia&tbm=isch

 

What you are seeing is likely the silicified remains of a bryozoan colony seen in cross section. The fossils found on the beaches around Michigan are from the Devonian (around 350 million years ago). The oldest known reptile dates from the Pennsylvanian in the Late Carboniferous (around 315 million years ago). Your rocks date from at least 35 million years before there were such things as lizards.

 

Welcome to the forum. Lots of great information here and members willing to share that information.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Fossildude19]

This is clearly NOT a lizard, but a bryozoan or coral as Ken stated.

Coral colonies, as well as branching and encrusting bryozoans took on all kinds of interesting shapes.

The shapes you believe to be lizards are due to the surrounding matrix covering other parts of the colony.

[Mark Kmiecik]

I would venture that it is either a bryozoan or sponge, but not a lizard. As Tim mentioned, lizards didn't happen for another 35 million years as far as the bedrock of Michigan is concerned. 

 

I see some very nice corals in the one photo with other rocks in it. Lots of beautiful corals to be found in our Great Lakes area. Nice finds.