Fossil Find Hailed as Earliest Recorded Male

[BurtWorm]

I don't know why, but this story cracked me up.


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/04/science/04CND-FOSS.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

By JAMES GORMAN

A 425-million-year-old fossil found in Herefordshire, England, may be the oldest record of an animal that is unarguably male. Scientists report today in the journal Science that the tiny crustacean, only two-tenths of an inch long, had an unmistakable penis.

In the paper published in today's issue, the scientists name the creature Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which they say means swimmer with a large penis.

David J. Siveter, a geologist at the University of Leicester, said that although this was his literal translation of the Greek, it might, like so many other references to virility in males, be a bit of an exaggeration....

[omshanti]

1. Crustaceans don't have penises... do they?

serious question folks...

[BurtWorm]

2. They did 400 million years ago

evidently.

[opihimoimoi]

6. Its the cousin to the modern Lysosquilla Maculata, thumb splitter

Praying Mantis shrimp, the Stomatapod which can reach 1 kilo and 34 inches

[xchrom]

3. the whole critter was two-tenths of an inch

and had unmistakable penis?!?
scientists are more forgiving than me -- bless them.

[INTELBYTES]

4. Also found next to him...

...was the fossil of a 425 million year old remote control.

[Loonman]

5. With

A 425 million year old can of beer and a petrified Barca lounger

[GOPisEvil]

7. Its toilet seat was up, too.

[opihimoimoi]

8. and some pretzels too

[BurtWorm]

11. What was a sea creature doing in Herefordshire, England?

It obviously didn't want to ask for directions.

<rimshot>

[BringEmOn]

12. A prenuptial agreement

signed by Anna Nicole Smith

[donotpassgo]

9. dont believe them...God put it there to trick you and

test your faith.


ummm....just kidding...in case you were wondering

[BringEmOn]

10. Who dug up

Strom?

[supernova]

13. NPR had to say "Copulatory Appendage"

I guess they couldn't say "penis" on the air. :shrug:

Copulatory Appendage. Heh, Heh, Heheheheheheh

[MGKrebs]

14. Still looking for the

425 million year old Independent Counsel.