HHH Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Hello! Can anyone help me identify this strange fossil? I found it in my backyard in soil from a pond we had dug that used to be a farmers field. I'm not sure how deep this fossil was, but the pond ranges from 3-15 ft. deep. What caught my eye on this fossil was the "hole pattern" (pic 4) and what appears to be a set of small teeth near the hole pattern (pic 2). If anyone can identify what these features are and what this fossil may be, it would be much appreciated! Thanks again! ~HHH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmaier Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The photos are a bit challenging to figure out, but is that a test of a crustacean? Crustacean people... where are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The round structures are the schizochroal eye lenses of a prolific Michigan Devonian trilobite: Eldredgeops. I added a photo sequence to decolorize and turn the eye 'inside-out' so the familiar lens pattern is easier to recognize. The "teeth" are an interesting feature worth noting; these were functional notches the trilobite utilized when taking a defensive posture. From the Latin word vinculum meaning locked, the vincular notches and furrows tightly secured the cephalon to the pygidium when the trilobite was enrolled. An extremely clever and protective Paleozoic tongue and groove system! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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