Welcome to an intriguing exploration of the Tully monster, a fascinating creature that has puzzled scientists for decades. Join us as we delve into the world of invertebrate paleontology at The Field Museum, guided by Scott Lidgard, an Associate Curator of Fossil Invertebrates.
Recently, a groundbreaking paper was published in Nature, co-authored by Scott, which sheds light on the true nature of the Tully monster, Illinois’ state fossil. This peculiar creature, long shrouded in mystery, has now been identified as a vertebrate. But why did it take so long to reach this conclusion?
The Tully monster’s unique appearance has baffled scientists because it exhibits characteristics found in various animal groups, yet doesn’t fit neatly into any single category. This has led to extensive debate about its classification. With around 2,400 specimens in the museum’s collection, including some newly acquired ones, researchers have been able to identify certain consistencies, despite many specimens being incomplete or fragmented.
Fossils of the Tully monster are often preserved in nodules, which are hardened sediments that encase the remains. When these nodules are opened, they reveal flattened parts of the creature. One notable feature observed in these fossils is the segmentation, which resembles the flaking of cooked salmon. This observation provided a clue that the segmentation might differ from that of annelid worms.
Another significant discovery was the reinterpretation of a light strip previously thought to be a gut trace. Instead, it was identified as a notochord, a primitive structure that serves as a precursor to the backbone in vertebrates. This finding, along with extensive examination of thousands of fossils, strongly supports the classification of the Tully monster as a vertebrate.
The publication of the Tully monster study in Nature garnered significant attention, highlighting the public’s fascination with ancient worlds. Many people are curious about what life was like millions of years ago, and the Tully monster, which lived around 300 million years ago, captures the imagination of museum visitors and researchers alike.
For Scott, the discovery is particularly rewarding, as the Tully monster had long been a mystery waiting to be solved. The satisfaction of finally understanding its nature is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the scientific community.
Paul, the fossil invertebrate collection manager, joins the exploration with unopened nodules that may contain Tully monsters. These nodules, dating back to the Pennsylvanian period, hold the promise of revealing ancient secrets. The process of opening them involves careful techniques, such as freezing and thawing, to split them along the fossil plane.
While not every nodule contains a Tully monster, the excitement of discovery is palpable. Even finding a small fern fragment is a rewarding experience, akin to winning a lottery. The rarity of Tully monsters, comprising less than a tenth of a percent of the fauna, makes each find all the more special.
The journey to uncover the mysteries of the Tully monster is a testament to the perseverance and curiosity of scientists. As we continue to explore the past, each discovery brings us closer to understanding the rich tapestry of life that once existed on Earth. Whether it’s a Tully monster or a humble fern, every fossil tells a story waiting to be uncovered.
Join a hands-on workshop where you’ll classify various fossil specimens, including replicas of the Tully monster. Use the characteristics discussed in the article to determine whether each specimen is a vertebrate or invertebrate. This activity will help you understand the complexities of fossil classification and the challenges faced by paleontologists.
Participate in a virtual reality session that takes you back 300 million years to the habitat of the Tully monster. Explore the ancient environment and observe the Tully monster in its natural setting. This immersive experience will enhance your understanding of the creature’s ecological context and the era it lived in.
Engage in a structured debate on the classification of the Tully monster as a vertebrate. Form teams to argue for or against the classification based on evidence from the article and additional research. This will develop your critical thinking and ability to analyze scientific evidence.
Simulate the process of opening fossil nodules using clay models. Learn the techniques used by paleontologists, such as freezing and thawing, to reveal the fossils inside. This activity will give you insight into the meticulous work involved in fossil preparation and discovery.
Prepare a presentation on the significance of the Tully monster discovery and its impact on our understanding of vertebrate evolution. Use visuals and data from the article to support your points. This will enhance your research skills and ability to communicate scientific findings effectively.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, we’re here with Paul. We’re going to explore some nodules. We are back with Scott in the invertebrate paleontology collections here at The Field Museum. Hi, I’m Scott Lidgard, an Associate Curator of Fossil Invertebrates here.
So, Scott, you’re one of the co-authors on this paper that was published in Nature about a month ago, right? It discusses the Tully monster—our state fossil known and loved by many—and reveals that it is actually a vertebrate. Why do you think it took so long for people to figure out what exactly it is?
Well, looking at your model, it’s a really bizarre-looking creature. It has perplexed scientists because it possesses different characteristics shared by some groups of animals but not by others. The combination of these characteristics has led scientists to debate which major group of animals it might belong to.
We have around 2,000 specimens in our collections, plus an unprocessed group of specimens that we just received. Out of these 2,400 specimens, is there any consistency among them?
There is some consistency, but many are preserved as fragments, so we don’t have complete specimens. Some are preserved in different ways. For example, one might show the back of the specimen, while another might be a twisted fragment or just a part of the front. After its death, this animal was compressed, and the surrounding sediment hardened into these nodules. When you open one of these nodules, you see a part and counterpart of a flattened, non-hard part.
One of the things we observed were segments where you can see alternating dark and light patterns. In vertebrate fossils, think of a nice piece of salmon on your dinner table. After cooking, the salmon flakes in planes, and as the body decomposes, the muscle bands tend to separate. This separation is similar to what we see in some fossils, extending to the margins of the fossil. This gave us a clue that the segmentation might not be the same as that of an annelid worm.
There’s also a light strip that had been interpreted as a gut trace, indicating where an organism’s digestive tract would go. However, we realized that the light band along the back of the body was different from a dark band, which extended to the end of the proboscis, while the light band went down to the tail. We reinterpreted that light band as the notochord, which in primitive fish serves as a precursor to the backbone.
We didn’t just look at a handful of these fossils; we examined thousands. As more data came in, it became very clear that the vertebrate interpretation was gaining support.
So when this was published in Nature, it’s not very common for a paper to receive as much attention as the Tully monster has. Why do you think that is?
There’s a kind of mystery about what past worlds looked like, and many people share that curiosity. They wonder what the world was like in their ancestors’ days or millions of years ago. The Tully monster lived around 300 million years ago, and I believe many people have an imagination that allows them to venture into those past worlds when they visit a museum and see exhibits like the Tully monster.
For me, the biggest thing is that the Tully monster had been sitting in the drawers here, almost whispering to me, “You don’t know what I am.” Now, I feel relieved and proud to have, with some help, figured out more or less what the Tully monster is.
So, Paul, the fossil invertebrate collection manager, has some unopened nodules that may contain Tully monsters. Let’s go find Paul.
Alright, Paul, we have our nodules here. When was the last time whatever organism is inside saw the light of day?
About 307 million years ago, in the Pennsylvanian period. We’re going to see what’s inside. We have no idea!
So, what’s the technique here?
I won’t try too hard; I’ll aim for a big surface.
Alright, let’s see if we can find a Tully monster. The nodules are pretty hardened and brittle, so they might shatter in all directions.
It seems to be breaking in every direction except for the plane we want it to split on.
Is there anything in it?
No!
How frequently do you find something in these nodules?
About half of them have something in them.
Might be a little bit of a fern in this one.
Oh nice! Just a small fragment. So far, we’ve got nothing and a little bit of a fern. But you mentioned there was another way—a better way.
Yes, when I worked with these, I froze them several times in my freezer at home. I let them soak in water for a while, and when they freeze, the ice expands and splits them open along where the fossil is.
So, let’s see if we find anything in here.
Yeah! Most of them aren’t the beautiful, spectacular fossils you see on display; you get a lot of small fragments.
Oh!
What?
It’s alright.
Oh! You’ve found something!
Yes, there’s a nice fern.
What makes it a nice fern?
You can see the whole fern is exposed along here.
There you go!
It’s some kind of leaf. That doesn’t look terrible.
That’s a ringing endorsement right there.
Well, no Tully monsters this time, but that’s a good effort.
Yes, but Tully monsters are very rare; less than one percent of the fauna will be Tully monsters.
Less than a tenth of a percent, really.
Oh, that makes me feel better. I’ll take my leaf. It’s like winning the lottery.
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This version removes informal language and laughter while maintaining the essence of the conversation.
Tully Monster – An extinct, soft-bodied marine organism from the Carboniferous period, known for its unique morphology and uncertain classification. – The Tully Monster has puzzled scientists for decades due to its unusual features that don’t clearly align with any known group of organisms.
Paleontology – The scientific study of life in the geological past, particularly through the analysis of fossils. – Paleontology provides crucial insights into the evolution of species and the history of life on Earth.
Fossils – The preserved remains or impressions of organisms from the remote past, typically found in sedimentary rock. – Fossils are invaluable to paleontologists as they reconstruct the history of life on our planet.
Vertebrate – An animal that possesses a backbone or spinal column, including species such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. – The discovery of vertebrate fossils in the region suggests that the area was once a diverse ecosystem.
Classification – The process of organizing living organisms into groups based on their similarities and evolutionary history. – The classification of the newly discovered species required a detailed analysis of its anatomical features.
Nodule – A small, rounded lump of mineral or organic matter, often found in sedimentary rocks, that can contain fossils. – The paleontologist carefully cracked open the nodule, revealing a perfectly preserved trilobite fossil inside.
Segmentation – The division of an organism’s body into repetitive segments, a characteristic seen in many animal phyla. – The segmentation observed in the fossilized remains suggests that the organism was an early arthropod.
Notochord – A flexible rod-like structure that provides support in all embryonic and some adult chordate animals. – The presence of a notochord in the fossil indicates that it belonged to an early vertebrate lineage.
Ancient – Belonging to the very distant past, often used to describe geological periods or prehistoric times. – The ancient rocks of the region have yielded numerous fossils that shed light on early life forms.
Discovery – The act of finding or uncovering something previously unknown, often leading to new scientific knowledge. – The discovery of a new dinosaur species has provided fresh insights into the diversity of prehistoric life.
