3.1" Jurassic Decapod Crustacean (Eryon) - Solnhofen Limestone

Jurassic Decapod Crustacean (Eryon) - Solnhofen Limestone #92460

This is a 3.1" long, detailed specimen of Eryon arctiformis an extinct type of decapod crustacean from the Solnhofen Limestone of Germany. Eryon was thought to have fed on particulate matter on the sea floor, probably having a similar lifestyle to a lobster.

It's nicely preserved specimen which is laid out nicely with it's tail prone and both claws visible. It's nicely centered on a thick 10x7" slab of limestone from the quarries near Eichstatt, Germany.

The Solnhofen limestone is a famous Upper Jurassic lagerstätte in Germany. It is where one of the most famous fossils of all time, Archaeopteryx, was found. The fine-grained limestone makes excellent building material, which has led to heavy quarrying over the past two centuries. In the process, some spectacular fossils were unearthed, including fossil dragonflies, fish, pterosaurs, shrimp, horseshoe crabs, and many more.

This area represents an ancient archipelago at the edge of a sea. Due to high salt content, the lowest levels in the water column could not support much life and were largely devoid of oxygen. This lack of oxygen and scavengers on the bottom of the sea led to beautiful fossil preservation.

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