Scapanorhynchus raphiodon Fossil Shark Teeth

My cousin has been extracting fossils from a piece of Carlile Shale Formation matrix. It was found in Grant County, South Dakota, USA. He has been slowly breaking it down to reveal the hidden fossil shark teeth.  The fossils date to the Cretaceous Period (Turonian). The picture shows Scapanorhynchus raphiodon shark teeth fossils.

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Info Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapanorhynchus

http://www.elasmo.com/frameMe.html?file=genera/cretaceous/scapanorhynchus.html&menu=bin/menu_genera-alt.html

Merry Christmas 2014

I hope anyone reading this has a Merry Christmas. May the new year bring good health and fun fossil finds!

This year's design features three fossils. A fern fossil from Pennsylvanian Period for St. Clair Pennsylvania, a Pliocene sand dollar fossil from Mexico makes up the ornaments, and the star consists of a Cretaceous shark teeth from South Dakota.

South Dakota Mosasaur Fossil Tooth?

My cousin has been extracting fossils from a piece of Carlile Shale Formation matrix. It was found in Grant County, South Dakota, USA. He has been slowly breaking it down to reveal the hidden fossil teeth.  The fossils date to the Cretaceous Period (Turonian). The picture shows what might be a mosasaur fossil tooth. Each scale division is a mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the images.

Sources:
http://oceansofkansas.com/aug98mos.html

http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1660/062.114.0101

Ptychodus whipplei Shark Teeth Fossils

My cousin has been extracting fossils from some Carlile Shale Formation matrix. It was found in Grant County, South Dakota, USA. He has been carefully breaking it down to extract the hidden fossil shark teeth.  The fossils date to the Cretaceous Period (Turonian). The picture shows two Ptychodus whipplei shark teeth fossils.

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Info Source:
http://oceansofkansas.com/Ptychodus2.html

Cretaceous Clam Fossil

While touring the Natural History section of the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw this clam fossil specimen (AHS-NH#21712)

This fossil was probably found in the Pierre Shale Formation of Glendive, Dawson County, Montana, USA. It dates to the Cretaceous Period.

Image was taken in October 2014.

Sources:
Neat image of Cretaceous Inoceramus clam fossil with pearls
http://www.paleocurrents.com/baculite_mesa/img/2003-05-17mesa_fossils/HTML/img_2480.htm

Harpes perradiatus Trilobite Fossil

Image of  a Harpes perradiatus trilobite fossil. This creature existed in the Middle Devonain Period.

While visiting the Gallery of Natural History at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw this fossil specimen (AHS-NH#20671).

It was found in what is now Alnif, Morocco, North Africa.

Images of museum specimen taken October 2014.

Source to refer to:
http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Galleries/TrilobitesMorocco/Harpes-perradiatus/Harpes.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpetida

Fossil Shark Teeth of South Dakota

My cousin recently received some matrix from the Carlile Shale Formation of Grant County, South Dakota, USA. He has been carefully breaking it down to extract the hidden fossil shark teeth.  The fossils date to the Cretaceous Period (Turonian). We have been trying to identify what they are. So far names I am considering are Leptostyrax, Cretalamna (Otodus), and Cretodus.

Thanks to Kenny for images.

Info Sources:
http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/41692-south-dakota-matrixteethclaws/

http://oceansofkansas.com/KS-sharks.html

How To Be A Dunkleosteus

Back in January 2014 I wrote about How To Be A Megalodon Shark which was about the popular smartphone game Hungry Shark Evolution. In that posting, I was hoping they would create an arthrodire or mosasaur creature to play in the game. Well they have created a Dunkleosteus. It is one fearsome creature with some artistic gaming license added in. The creature has been given a double mouth with the inner able to project out like the creatures in the Aliens movie. It is somewhat creepy.

This game is mixing modern fish and sharks with fossil sharks Megalodon (Cenozoic Era) and the Dunkleosteus (Paleozoic Era - Devonian Period). The game designers did pick two of the more popular sea creatures that are shown in fossil sections of museums.

In the game the Dunkleosteus is the most powerful creature revealed so far but in reality the Megalodon was much bigger though not armored like the Dunkleosteus.  The game info screen shown below is amusing by listing "A newly discovered prehistoric colossus. Some say this beast was responsible for the extinction of the Megalodon..." which means it can time travel. The Dunkleosteus was extinct by over 300 million years by the time the Megalodon made is appearance on the Earth.

Learn more at this wiki:
http://hungry-shark.wikia.com/wiki/Big_Daddy_%28Dunkleosteus%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkleosteus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalodon

Conodont Microfossil Polygnathus longiposticus

This image shows what appears to be a Polygnathus longiposticus conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Spathognathodus sp. Conodont Microfossil

This image shows what appears to be a Spathognathodus sp. conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Spathognathodus crassidentatus Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be a Spathognathodus crassidentatus conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Conodont Spathognathodus macer Fossil

This image shows what appears to be a Spathognathodus macer conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Ozarkodina Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be an Ozarkodina conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Spathognathodus macer Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be a Spathognathodus macer conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Ozarkodina Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be an Ozarkodina conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Lonchodina Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be a Lonchodina conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Polygnathus lobatus Conodont Fossil

This image shows what appears to be a Polygnathus lobatus conodont fossil. This creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Fossil was found in the Jacob Chapel Shale of Clark County Indiana USA.

Source for ID is Conodonts of the Jacobs Chapel Shale by Carl B. Rexroad, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Bulletin 41 (published Bloomington Indiana 1969).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Atraktoprion Scolecodont Fossil

This image is of a microfossil fragment that appears to be an Atraktoprion scolecodont. It was found in the Kope or Fairview Formations of Mason County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Ordovician Period. Field of view is about 1 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Loxonema yandellana Gastropod Microfossil

The microfossil in this picture appears to be a Loxonema yandellana gastropod (snail). It was found in the Somerset Shale of the Salem Limestone of Meade County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Field of view in picture is about 2 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Cleidophorus Pelecypod Microfossil

This image is of a microfossil that appears to be a Cleidophorus pelecypod. It was found in the Kope or Fairview Formations of Mason County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Ordovician Period. Field of view is about 1 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Arizona Petrified Wood Fossil

While visiting the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw fossil specimen (AHS-NH#13056) from Navajo County, Arizona USA. It is petrified wood. This plant existed in the Upper or Late Triassic Period. There are some really beautiful colors in this piece. The display is located right in the front entrance lobby as of October 2014.

Leperditia carbonaria Ostracod Fossil

The fossil in this picture appears to be a Leperditia carbonaria ostracod. It was found in Meade County, Kentucky, USA. The creature existed in the Mississippian Period. Field of view in picture is about 2 mm.

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Beipiao Sturgeon Fish Fossil

I saw an interesting fish fossil for sale at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park gift shop in October 2014.

The label said, "The Beipiao sturgeon was discovered in the area of west Liaoning Province of China. It was formed in land facies layer of the Late Jurassic Period. It was about 130,000,000 years ago."

If I recall correctly, the length was over 20 cm and the price was $250.

Encope micorpora Echinoderm

While visiting the Gallery of Natural History at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw fossil specimen (AHS-NH#9854) Encope micorpora (Agassiz, 1841) sand dollar. Creatures like this are alive today and existed back to the Pliocene This one was found in El Golfo, Mexico.

Image of museum specimen taken October 2014.

Source to refer to:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/taxa/taxon.jsp?id=2133

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/taxa/specimen.jsp?id=7192

Clypeus plotii Echinoid Fossil

While visiting the Gallery of Natural History at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw fossil specimen (AHS-NH#9854) Clypeus plotii (Leske, 1778) sea urchin fossil. This creature existed in the Jurassic Period (Bajocian to Oxfordian). They were found in what is now Europe and North Africa.

Images of museum specimen taken October 2014.

Source to refer to:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/echinoid-directory/taxa/taxon.jsp?id=557

Sphaeurilitides

Here is a picture of a Sphaeurilitides (Cusman) fossil at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. It was found in the Alps.

Image taken in June 2014.

Mytilus edulis Bivalve

This picture shows a Mytilus edulis (Gray, 1847) marine bivalve mollusc at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this exist in today's oceans. It is also known as the blue or common mussel.

Image taken in June 2014.

Info Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_mussel

Hippurites Bivalve Fossil

This image shows a Hippurites (Lamarck, 1801) marine bivalve mollusk fossil at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed in Late Cretaceous oceans.

Images taken in June 2014.

Info Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippurites

Parvamussium cristatellum

Here is a picture of a Parvamussium cristatellum (Dautzenberg & Bavay, 1912) bivalve fossil at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed in the Miocene Epoch of Neogene Period. At the museum it was labeled as Amussium cristatum aka Pecten cristatum (Bavay, 1905).

Image taken in June 2014.

Info Sources:
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215410

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=394473

http://www.gbif.org/species/4374335

http://www.lusofossils.com/biva.html

Constellaria Bryozoan Fossil

Here is a picture of a Constellaria bryozoan fossil. It is known for its star like patterns on the fossil surface. Recently, it was found in Maysville, Kentucky, USA. The Upper Ordovician Period formations found at that location are Grant Lake (Maysvillian) and Bull Fork (Richmondian).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Past related blog posts:
http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2012/09/let-me-play-among-constellaria.html

http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2010/03/constellaria-bryozoan-kentucky.html

http://louisvillefossils.blogspot.com/2009/10/ordovician-bryozoan-constellaria.html

Upside Down Ordovician Trilobite

Here is a picture of an upside down trilobite fossil found recently (October 2014) in Maysville, Kentucky, USA. The Upper Ordovician Period formations found there are Grant Lake (Maysvillian) and Bull Fork (Richmondian).

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Maysville Kentucky Trace Fossils

Here are some pictures of trace fossils found recently (October 2014) in Maysville, Kentucky, USA. The Upper Ordovician Period formations found there are Grant Lake (Maysvillian) and Bull Fork (Richmondian).
Thanks to Kenny for the images.

Learn more at:

Kentucky Paleontological Society (KPS) web site
http://www.uky.edu/OtherOrgs/KPS/pages/jackson.html#maysville

Dry Dredgers web site
http://drydredgers.org/thumb_by_ichnofossils.htm

Palm Fossil from Arizona

During my visit to the Gallery of Natural History at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (1300 N. College Ave, Tempe Arizona 85281) I saw fossil specimen (AHS-NH#14891) from Yavapai County, Arizona USA. It is a polished palm tree fossil.

Image taken October 2014.

Learn more:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trjune99.htm#palmwood