Gaia

Silvershark · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: Calamari killing field

Quote:

Scientists have unearthed evidence of a Jurassic killing field in a sea that once covered a wide area of middle England.

Fossil evidence points to cataclysmic events which would have killed millions of fish and other soft-bodied marine creatures.

In turbulent environmental conditions 160m years ago the waters may have been poisoned by a volcanic eruption or suddenly deprived of oxygen wiping out much of the sea life.

Dramatic and newly discovered fossil images reveal how voracious squid-like creatures were lured to the area to feed on the huge numbers of dead fish. Some held prey in their tentacles at the very moment they also succumbed in the deadly waters.

The scientists believe it developed into a predator-trap in which victims acted as a draw on new shoals entering the area before they were themselves overcome in a perpetual deadly cycle.