This first specimen I find the most interesting. It has a type of matting bryozoan and either a branching bryozoan like cyclostome or coral like Protarea richmondensis. See these nice pictures on the Kentucky Paleontological Society website: encrusting Protarea richmondensis coral on Rafinesquina and Cyclostome bryozoan and Cornulites worm tubes encrusting Rafinesquina
This next Rafinesquina brachiopod has imprints of the tubes of either a Cornulites worm or Tentaculites.
An inarticulate brachiopod has made its home on shell edge of this Rafinesquina brachiopod.
A number of bryozoan colonies can be seen on shell edge and shell body of this brachiopod.
Not really any visible encrustations on this brachiopod though an interesting indentation.
Thanks to Herb for the images of some of his brachiopod specimens.
I finally figured out how to tell Rafinesquina apart from Strophomena... the hinge line. When looking at the Dorsal valve (the convex shaped one) of both shells, on Strophomena the hinge line will peek over the edge.
ReplyDeleteYour second photo ("This next Rafinesquina brachiopod has imprints of the tubes of either a Cornulites worm or Tentaculites.") most probably shows Cornulites, certainly not Tentaculites.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos !
Hi Dave. The pedicle valve(the one with the delthyrium) is convex on Raphinesquina. The brachial is the convex valve on Strophonema.
ReplyDeleteSolius