How Bizarre Paleontology

Ancient jellyfish suffered strange, sandy death

Shale hints at unusual series of events that led to animal’s fossilization

sand-filled jellyfish fossil

SANDY JELLY   Over 300 million years ago, a peculiar series of events culminated in the preservation of this 12-centimeter-long, sand-filled jellyfish fossil. Its body is at right and tentacles stretch left.

G. Young

By Thomas Sumner

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