Zygoptera indet
Order Odonata, Suborder Zygoptera
Saccocoma pectinata
Order Crinoidea, Family Comatulidae
Geological Time: Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 48 mm in overall length with 25 mm wings Crinoids: 25 mm – 35 mm across on a 280 mm by 290 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone, Eichstatt, Germany
Fossil Code: GF106
Price: $695.00
 Description:
This is a fine example of a damselfly from the lithographic limestone
deposits of Eichstatt, Germany, known as Mesonepa minor. These
150 million year old deposits are famous for their exceptionally
well-preserved organisms, the most famous of which are the handful
of specimens of the ancient bird Archaeopteryx. That degree of
preservation is evidenced here in the fact that the eyes, limbs
and some wing venation can clearly be seen. Damselflies are easily
distainguished fro dragonflies in the field in that they fold their
wings in the resting state, much like the example seen here. While
they are better known from the Cretaceous and Eocene, some such
as this one existed in the Jurassic. This specimen is seen here
with three examples of the pelagic crinoid Saccocoma, while two
are easier to spot, there is a less distinct example immediately
to the upper left of the damselfly. |
