1.3" Eocene Fossil Crab (Pulalius) Pincer Leg - Washington State

This is a fossil pincer leg of the Late Eocene aged crab Pulalius vulgaris. These crabs are found within hard concretions (a mass of rock that forms around organic manner) that erode out of the Lincoln Creek Formation, which must be broken open to find the crab. The crab must then be prepared from the hard concretion using mechanical tools, a very time consuming process.

Below is an example of a Pulalius vulgaris crab in its concretion after having been broken open with a sledge hammer, prior to preparation.