Aeger tipularis, Jurassic, Solnhofen, Germany
Malacostracan—molting, soft-shelled crustaceans— are the ancestors of modern shrimp. This specimen has considerable remaining structure. As is commonly done, the preparer has defined the fossil's body by trenching around it and delicately tinting it so that it stands out from its limestone matrix. The structures at three and eleven o'clock are dendritic formations probably of manganese dioxide, not fossil plant remains.
Dimensions: 20 1/8" x 16 1/4"
About the Ancient Microworlds collection:
This piece is part of a collection of several dozen framed high-magnification prints of fossils, as seen in the book, Ancient Microworlds by Giraud Foster and Norman Barker (2000).
Foster and Barker worked together for 12 years to create this collection, which ultimately led to a photography exhibit that shattered the barrier between science and art. They used custom light-scanning macrographic equipment to capture the rich patterns and colors of the fossilized organisms.
The exhibit travelled the country, and was last on display in the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, NY from June to September 2015.
FOR PICKUP ONLY AT MUSEUM OF THE EARTH