What led scientists to believe that the Tully Monster was an animal with multiple characteristics?
The Tully Monster has been a mysterious creature for decades. It was first discovered in 1958 near the Mazon Creek fossil beds in Illinois, and since then, it has puzzled paleontologists worldwide. Despite numerous attempts to categorize it, scientists have not been able to say for sure what it was or to which group it belonged.
What is the Tully Monster?
The Tully Monster is a soft-bodied marine creature that lived about 300 million years ago. It had a long, narrow body that tapered on both ends and was estimated to grow up to 14 inches long. Its most remarkable feature was its eyes, which were positioned at the end of a pair of long stalks.
Scientists have closely studied the Tully Monster’s anatomy, and it’s still difficult to classify it in any specific family. People initially thought it was a type of worm, then later as a type of mollusk, and others as unclassifiable. It does not closely resemble any modern organism that we know today.
Was it really a fish?
At first glance, the Tully Monster might have looked like a type of fish since it had a long, streamlined body. However, research has shown that it didn’t have the bones or scales that are typical of fish. Besides, it didn’t have fins, which are vital for swimming.
What about the giant slug?
While the Tully Monster did have some slug-like features, it’s still not enough to attribute it to this family. For instance, it had a long proboscis at one end of its mouth that was similar to that of a terrestrial slug, but it also had eyes on stalks, which was entirely different.
Conclusion
Despite the numerous attempts to categorize the Tully Monster, it can neither distinctly fit into any known phylum nor does it resemble any known creature. It remains a puzzle that scientists worldwide continue to study to this day.
References:
- Prehistoric Monster: Was Tully Ancient World’s One and Only Giant Slug with Fangs? (TheVintage News)
- The Tully Monster