"Sea Scorpion" Fossil . Eurypterus remipes. Silurian. Fiddlers Green Formation. Herkimer County, New York, USA...

Description

"Sea Scorpion" Fossil
Eurypterus remipes
Silurian
Fiddlers Green Formation
Herkimer County, New York, USA

This odd-looking fossil represents an ancient marine creature known as an Eurypterid, which is often referred to as a "sea scorpion" for obvious reasons. Dating all the way back to the Silurian Period of the Paleozoic Era over 400 million years ago, such sea monsters scoured the floor of the prehistoric ocean, but also likely had some mode of free-swimming lifestyle. Most of the fossil examples that appear on the market are out of the Fiddlers Green Formation, in New York, like this "dynamic duo," which includes a rather complete Eurypterid alongside a second, partial upper body of another that almost looks as if its lower body were under the first specimen. Featuring the classic brownish hue over the preserved exterior "shells" of the animals, which are set in a rocky grayish matrix, this pair is impressive for the variety and shows a relatively minimal amount of restoration. Compression with a layered effect near the top of the primary specimen confirms its authentic form. Each of the two displays a single preserved paddle off their segmented bodies. The complete example of Eurypterus remipes measures over 7 inches (18 cm) in length from tip to tail. Collectors know the rarity and the value of top Eurypterid specimens, and this pair of "sea scorpions" surely qualifies as one of those.
Overall Measurements: 7.28 x 7.28 x 1.02 inches (18.50 x 18.50 x 2.60 cm)

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