Eupropops danae
Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Chelicerata, Class Merostomata, Order Xiphosura, Family Euproopidae
Geological Time: Desmoinian, Pennsylvanian (~300 m.y.a.)
Size (25.4mm=1 inch): 18 mm wide by 10 mm long on a 30 mm by 33 mm nodule pair
Fossil Site: Francis Creek shale, Morris, Illinois (Mazon Creek)
Code: MZF02
Price: $125.00
 Description:
The Mazon Creek deposits of the region near Braidwood, Illinois rival
the other famous Lagerstatten of the Burgess Shale, Solnhofen, and
Liaoning for the variety of detailed life preserved. Many exquisitely-preserved
specimens are found in the ironstone nodules that make up the deposits.
Xiphosura (horseshoe crabs) are related to the extinct Eurypterids,
and more distantly to spiders and scorpions. They trace their ancestry
back to the Cambrian, and proceed into the modern day as the genus
Limulus. This one is found in the Mazon Creek deposits of Illinois,
and is known as Euproops danae. It is common for the telson (tail)
to not be preserved, as is the case here. |
