Big Rains = Big Bryozoans

[Jurassic Jim]

What a interesting start to May, 45 and rainy in Alabama!!! In fact rainy is an understatement, it rained hard for about 12 hours straight. Decided I was going stir crazy in the house and would risk being wet and cold and went out fossil hunting. It was well worth it, found lots of great things but--I feel strange saying this--bryozoans ruled the day (Archimedes specifically). For those that have hunted these interesting things, you know that these things are usually not very long unless in matrix. To be honest these were no longer intact either, but they were exposed in the shale from the heavy rain overnight and had yet to scatter. Here they are...

[PetrolPete]

Wow! It is amazing that you found that intact. The longest one I've found out of the matrix was only 1 inch. Congratulations on your great find.

[hrguy54]

I've never seen one of those. Look very brittle. Great find!!

[Auspex]

Wow! Outstanding!

[lissa318]

Very nice!

[traveltip1]

I would gladly go out in the pouring rain to pick up a few more long loose screws like those.

[Indy]

Those are a couple of the longest Archimedes

I've ever seen which are weathered free from matrix.

[K-lover]

Wow indeed, My longest ever that is fully weathered is only about 4 inches. Great finds!!

And by the way, I live in Harvest, just north of you.

Edited May 6, 2013 by K-lover

[crinoid1]

Incredible finds! Definitely 2 of the best Archimedes bryozoans I've ever seen.

Gabe

[Missourian]

Wow. Those would be amazing even if they were broken into several pieces.

[Jurassic Jim]

Thanks everyone, I am thrilled with them. The other thing I noticed is that while I thought I was finding many different species of archimedes over the years, my interpretation has now collapsed several of them into one. THis is because if you follow the longer stem from bottom to top the segments take on very different characteristics. I had just never really had the opportunity to observe before.

[Jesta384]

Absolutely wonderful finds!

[Missourian]

I'm looking at this thread again, and again, I say "wow!"

[Missourian]

.... And don't forget to put it in 'fossil of the month'.

[Jurassic Jim]

.... And don't forget to put it in 'fossil of the month'.

Absolutely. For Archimedes they were the find of a lifetime for me anyway. But seriously you will see them in the invertebrate entries. Edited May 8, 2013 by Jurassic Jim