Mazoscolopendra richardsoni
Class Chilopoda, Order Scolopendromorpha
Geological Time: Pennsylvanian (~300 m.y.a.)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Centipede fossil is 48 mm long (curve measure); Matrix: 75 mm by 55 mm nodule pair
Fossil Site: Pit 11, Morris, Illinois (Mazon Creek)
Code: RCF05
Price: Sold
 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.
The majority of collecting areas are the spoil heaps of abandoned
coal mines, the most famous of which is Peabody Coal Pit 11. Pit
11 now serves as a cooling pond for the Braidwood nuclear power
plant, but with over 100 other localities, specimens still come
to light. This specimen is of a group rarely seen from the Mazon
Creek fauna known as the scolopedromorph centipede Mazoscolopendra
richardsoni. Together with the Mazon Creek Palenarthus impressus
they comprise the only known Mesozoic scolopendromorphs. There
is another Mazon Creek centipede, the scutigeromorph Latzelia primordalis;
altogether only some 5 dozen specimens of the three were known
at the end of the 20th century. |
