Tag: giant
Bigass Ammonite Fossil is not a Bigass Ammonite Fossil
Yep, that looks like a bigass prehistoric ammonite fossil, and it’s not a snail fossil as the caption states.
Ammonites are perhaps the most widely known fossil, possessing the typically ribbed spiral-form shell as pictured above. These creatures lived in the seas between 240 – 65 million years ago, when they became extinct along with the dinosaurs. The name ‘ammonite’ (usually lower-case) originates from the Greek Ram-horned god called Ammon. Ammonites belong to a group of predators known as cephalopods, which includes their living relatives the octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus [via].
I found the top image (with the erroneous caption) in here, and wondered about the story behind it. Since fossils are typically embedded in rock and I didn’t see any hole or excavation, something seemed off.
Ammonite fossils are common, but are rarely larger than about 9 inches in diameter. Sure, some larger species have been found, but why wasn’t this one encased in plaster, crated up and shipped to an archeological museum? How could something so heavy and brittle stay in one piece while being tilted up? How could four guys lift it, let alone one?
A Tineye search brought me to the source – a 2005 documentary filmed in Lyme Regis, England for the BBC series “Journey of Life.”
“This giant ammonite was actually a replica that we used to show how big ammonites could grow. Made of polystyrene it squeaked as we rolled it down the beach. The look of gob-smack on the faces of Jurassic Coast fossil collectors was priceless!”
Paul Williams, 3 September 2013.
This “fossil” was a prop, and it had a cameo role in Episode 1: Seas of Life.
[Full story with photos here.]
Perhaps you’re wondering why I suddenly found an interest in large fabricated ammonite fossils. It’s because I saw that top picture and wanted to do this with it:
The .Gif Friday Post No. 387 – Foldytown, Catwalk & Silo Man
Paul Bunyan – Retired
The real Paul Bunyan [found here].
CapyBathy
Leapin’ Lizards!
THAT’S NOT A PHOTOSHOP. The lizard’s big as a Buick, and it’s going after a transformer.
[Found in here. Word of caution – It’s a Russian website, and they don’t police their internet for viruses very well. I think it’s clean, but you can acquire some nasties if you’re not careful.]
Waiting For Sundown…
It’s just biding its time. Happy Halloween.
Context is Important
A few years ago we posted that image in puzzlement, and we’re still mystified why a young guy in a skirt and a headband is so pissed at an older man that he needs a piece of furniture to take him down. I mean, look, it’s not a matchup between David and Goliath here. On the other hand, maybe Skirt Boy is playing a prank on the old man by stealing his chair right before grampa is about to sit down, but there’s no need to grab it by the leg.
More likely, the strong young man is going to aid his father and hurl the chair at someone or something out of the frame, like this:
That’s my best guess, Occam’s Razor and all.
Carp Happens.
[Found here.]
Tacky Raccoons 