Conodonts.......

I was just cleaning out my UNM mailbox and ran across an article about conodonts ~ once the most common creature to be found in the oceans, now extinct since the Triassic period, and apparently ranges greatly in size from a centimeter or so up to 40cm, and resemble eels.  

I can hear it now ~ what the heck is she talking about?  This is what caught my attention:

 

 Photo: Geological Museum of the Polish Geological Institute in Warsaw

Conodonts, like eels, have very soft bodies.  What you are looking at here are what scientists call conodont elements apparently because they don't quite classify as bones or teeth, comprised of calcium phosphate  ~the picture above represent ONE conodont's mouth parts.  There is a cool you tube video that shows how it might work here which is really cool to watch.  

These creatures are known as "index fossils" used to identify geological periods.  They are also thought to be a distant relative of the hag fish ~ ugh.  

So, there you go.  I just had to share, in hopes that you enjoy this kind of weirdness too.....

Love, 365