Name:
Hyolithes cecrops Age: Middle Cambrian Formation: Spence Shale Location: Idaho Size: Hyolithes is 1.5 inches long This specimen is not for sale Click here for similar specimens that are for sale
This is a very interesting fossil. It is a Hyolithes cecrops from the Middle Cambrian of Idaho. This organism has remained an enigma since the beginning of modern scientific description. Authorities are unsure of where it belongs in a classification of the invertebrates. It may be related to mollusks but in a separate phylum. Hyolithids have also been found in the famous Burgess Shale. This specimen is nicely preserved and exhibits fine detail - the conical shape of the organism is beautifully displayed, and the textured pattern is quite evident. The fossil has nice color and contrast and is well centered on the natural plate of shale that also contains some minute trilobite fragments. This is a very distinct example of this problematic fossil.