The curious case of ‘Tully monster’

The prehistoric marine creature cannot be classified as a vertebrate, says study

A bizarre prehistoric marine creature — popularly referred to as the ‘Tully monster’ — cannot be classified as a vertebrate, contrary to the claims of some experts, a new study has found.

Last year, two groups of scientists claimed that the ancient animal — that had long defied classification — was in fact a vertebrate. Specifically, it seemed to be a type of fish called a lamprey.

However, according paleobiologists who undertook more analysis, this classification is wrong.

“This animal doesn’t fit easy classification because it’s so weird,” said Lauren Sallan, an assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.

“It has these eyes that are on stalks and it has this pincer at the end of a long proboscis and there’s even disagreement about which way is up. But the last thing that the Tully monster could be is a fish,” said Ms. Sallan.

The mystery of the Tully monster, known to scientists as Tullimonstrum gregarium, remains.