Illinois

Presented by: Zoe M.  State: Illinois

Description of Organism: "The Tully monster was a soft-bodied, invertebrate, marine animal which is an animal that has no shell and no backbone, and lived in the ocean. It had an elongate, segmented body that tapered at both ends. At the front was a long snout ending in a "jaw" with eight tiny "teeth." At the other end was a tail and two fins. Two eyes on stalks projected out sideways near the front of the body. Judging from the streamlined shape, flexible body, and maneuverable fins, it's likely the Tully monster was an active swimmer." History:

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The Tully Monstrum was first discovered in 1958 by a Mr. Francis Tully. Since the Fossil had no Identification, he named it after himself. Bringing it to the Field Museum, they scientifically called it the //Tullimonstrum gregarium//. It was later discovered to have actually existed around 300 million years ago, in what is known as the Pennsylvanian geologic time period. ======   Type of Eater: Carnivore

Land or Water Animal : Water Animal (Swims) Why was it chosen to be State Fossil: It a unique fossil, and no other Tully Monster fossils were found in any part of the world. How Was the Tully Monster Preserved:  Since many animals had lived in shallow marine bays, like the Tully Monster, as they died they fell to the bottom of the bay. The Tully Monster was quickly buried in mu d before it could completely decay, therefore managing to become preserved.

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