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

- More than 2 years ago

VANCOUVER — Tentacle-draped jellyfish might seem odd, and their deaths can be even weirder.