Leech cocoon preserves 200-million-year-old

[Still Waters]

Move over amber. When it comes to preserving soft-bodied animals through the ages, there's a newcomer in town: fossilised leech "cocoons".

The cocoons are secreted by many leech and worm species as mucous egg cases that harden and often fossilise. Almost two decades ago, Norwegian scientists found a perfectly preserved nematode worm embedded in the wall of a fossilised cocoon, but no one had investigated further.

http://www.newscient...old-fossil.html

[Hasina]

Anyone else hearing the X-Files theme?

[Wickian]

Now I'm remembering that X-Files episode with the jailed murderer who would spit all over balled up paper to make a cocoon...

[Moonshine]

I agree.