Mazon Creek - Crustacean Or Imagination?

[evannorton]

Attached is a nodule opened using the freeze/thaw technique from an Essex location known for aquatic life (jelly fish, clams, etc.).

After reviewing this a number of times over a few months, it now looks to me like a crustacean fossil. When I look at it I see a shrimp facing the center of the picture (or the two nodules staring at each other ) - and a body with tail that wraps around the outer portion of the nodues.

Do folks agree - or is my mind playing tricks on me?

[AgrilusHunter]

Hi Evan,

I do see the features you are describing but I don't think it is a shrimp fossil, sorry.

Edited January 21, 2013 by AgrilusHunter

[evannorton]

This was from one of the few Essex sites that I was able to do some digging at - so I was hopeful - but I must admit I didn't have my hopes up. Thanks for taking a look!

[Acryzona]

I see what you're saying. Hopefully the Mazon Creek collectors will weigh in with their opinions. Thanks for posting.

[RCFossils]

Sorry, i do not see a shrimp either.

[cowsharks]

Evan, before I even read your full post, I stopped to look at the images to see if I saw any sort of crustacean. I started looking for signs of a crab, shrimp, lobster, etc. After 30 seconds nothing obvious jumped out at me, but then I saw exactly what you described; the appearance of a shrimp with its tail wrapped under it facing the center of the image. So, although a couple of us might "see what you see", as the others point out, you'll likely need to wait to hear from the mazon SME's (Subject Matter Experts) to find out if it really is a shrimp, or just a vivid imagination. I hope it's a fossil - after reading about all the freezing and thawing you guys have to do on these nodules, I'm sure it's a bummer when they come out empty.

Daryl.