Large Fossil Grasshopper. Usually only small insects are found in the fossil record. Large insects such as this 2.9 inch Grasshopper (Locust) are extremely rare. Also, it is one of the earliest insects known at over 150 millions from Eichstatt, Germany. Eichstatt is a sister fossil lagoon to Solnhofen which is famous for the fossil of the earliest bird, Archaeopterix. The best insects are found in the Eichstatt fossil pond which was shallow and preserved a very small representation of large flying insects. All fossils from this lithographic limestone are rare and many tons of limestone have to be processed to find a rare fossil. This 2.9 inch locust (including the antennae) is nearly complete with four legs and head with a clear eye and one of the antennae. It is nicely centered on a 5.75 x 4.75 inch natural limestone matrix.
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Estimated Value $400 - 500.
Fossils
