Tullimonstrum, better known as the Tully Monster, was a small marine creature that lived during the Pennsylvanian. The Tully Monster was an enigmatic little creature for several reasons. One, it is only found in the Mazon Creek Formation in Illinois; two, scientists aren’t really sure what it even is. What is known is that it had a soft, torpedo-shaped body, an eyebar (eyes on stalks looking in two directions), and a clawed proboscis (an elongated appendage containing its mouth) jutting out of the front of its body. Scientists have not reached a consensus on whether the Tully Monster is a vertebrate or invertebrate, nor who its closest relative is. Some argue that it is related to jawless fish like lampreys, while others think its related to cephalopods like squids. For now, this oddball remains a mystery.
Tullimonstrum, better known as the Tully Monster, was a small marine creature that lived during the Pennsylvanian. The Tully Monster was an enigmatic little creature for several reasons. One, it is only found in the Mazon Creek Formation in Illinois; two, scientists aren’t really sure what it even is. What is known is that it had a soft, torpedo-shaped body, an eyebar (eyes on stalks looking in two directions), and a clawed proboscis (an elongated appendage containing its mouth) jutting out of the front of its body. Scientists have not reached a consensus on whether the Tully Monster is a vertebrate or invertebrate, nor who its closest relative is. Some argue that it is related to jawless fish like lampreys, while others think its related to cephalopods like squids. For now, this oddball remains a mystery.