Arachnophyllum striatum Coral Fossil

 

This picture is of an Arachnophyllum striatum (d'Orbigny, 1850) coral fossil. It was found in Beargrass Creek, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky USA. It dates to the Silurian Period.

This coral fossil was once part of the collection of southern Indiana paleontologist George K. Greene (1835-1917). It appeared that all of Greene's fossil collection was sold to American Museum of Natural History in New York City after his death but as it turns out there was one cabinet not sold and was past down to his descendants. 

This fossil is now on display at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center till at least September 2024 after that it should be transferred to the Indiana State Museum. George Greene's great-great-grandson William "Bill" Bishop passed away on November 29, 2023 and his wish that fossils be donated.

Deltodus Shark Tooth Fossil

Picture of what appears to be a Deltodus shark tooth fossil found in the Salem Formation of Hardin County Kentucky USA. It dates to the Mississippian Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the picture.

Siphonophrentis elongata Horn Coral Fossil

This fossil is a horn coral called Siphonophrentis elongata (Rafenesque & Clifford, 1820). It was found in the Jeffersonville Limestone of Jefferson County Kentucky USA. The creature lived in the Middle Devonian Period. This species of horn coral was one of the largest that ever existed. Since it is, the fossil is pretty easy to identify when it is found. They are hard to find fully intact though. The maximum length can get to 60-80 cm and its largest diameter 8-10 cm.

This fossil was first described as Turbinolia buceros var. elongata by C.S. Rafinesque and J.D. Clifford in the 1820 article, Prodrome d' une monographie des Turbinolies fossils du Kentucky (dans l' Amerique Septentrionale) found in Annales Generales des Scinces Physiques [Bruxelles] Tome V, pages 231-235. The fossil was renamed by Erwin C. Stumm in the 1949 paper Revision of the families and genera of the Devonian tetracorals in Geological Society of America Memoir 40, 92 p., 25 Pls.

Below is a digitally altered image of Rafinesque taken from the book The Life and Writings of Rafinesque by Richard Ellsworth Call, Filson Club Publications No. 19, Louisville Kentucky printed by John P. Morton and Company 1895. The image was from a painting by Jouett in the Wisconsin Historical Society collection courtesy of Honorable R. G. Thwaites, the Secretary. The portrait painter Matthew Harris Jouett (1788-1827) was born and died in Kentucky.

This fossil has a special significance in relation to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was first described by one of Kentucky's first scientist/naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque (1783-1840). He was born and self-educated in Europe. Between 1819-1826 he taught at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. While there, he published a number of works with a local merchant John D. Clifford (1778-1820). Using the book about Rafinesque mentioned above as source, Clifford was responsible for Rafinesque teaching in Kentucky and if he had not died suddenly would have more than likely continued to co-author more works on natural science.

Their 1820 article was the first to describe some of the coral fossils from the Falls of the Ohio in which they described over 34 species. The descriptions are incomplete and without illustrations though. None of their types were located by Erwin C. Stumm in the 1964 definitive work on Louisville area corals entitled Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio published in The Geological Society of American Memoir 93 page 5. He did note that the coral fossil now known as Siphonophrentis elongata was referred by them as "petrified Buffalo horns" and was also named by the French naturalist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur as Zaphrentis gigantea.

The genus Siphonophrentis was named by Majorie O'Connell in the Revision of the Genus Zaphrentis in Annuals of New York Academy Science Volume XXIII. pp. 177-192, February 25, 1914. [LINK]

Myelodactylus convolutus Crinoid from Louisville Limestone

Recently, I have tried to put more effort in labeling a lot of collected fossils in my collection with names. At times difficult, due to poor note keeping by me when I picked them up or received them from someone else. So I sometimes rely on the previous posts to help figure out what was found and when. While looking back, I found that I had a number of unidentified fossil entries that I did not visit again to give a name. One was from May 10, 2010 which turns out to be a Myelodactylus convolutus? crinoid.

My cousin Kenny helped with the full name and sent me a picture of one from his collection seen above. This one is younger in that it was found in the Louisville Limestone and not the Waldron Shale. The fossil was found in the Jefferson County Kentucky USA and dates to the Middle Silurian Period. Also look at the blog post in 2014 showing one fully extended and attached with holdfast to a large coral.

This crinoid was unique in that the remains shown are believed to be its stem and not just an arm. In that inner coil would be a calyx with arms. Unless it was quite small on this species I do not see where the calyx is thus must have snapped off.

Refer to this article Myelodactylid crinoids from the Silurian of the British Isles by Stephen K Donovan and George D Sevastopulo from 1989 Palaeontology Volume 32 pages 689-710 at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/173971#/summary Plate 81 shows clear examples of what the calyx looked like though it might be somewhat different in the species of this fossil

Vinlandostrophia Brachiopod Fossil with Friends

Here is an image of three fossils in one place. First is the Vinlandostrophia (Platystrophia) sp. brachiopod with an unidentified inarticulate brachiopod attached. On the inarticulate brachiopod is a Cornulites corrugatus worm tube fossil. These fossils date to the Ordovician Period. They might be from the McMillan/Grant Lake Formation and were found in eastern Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA.

Thanks to Kenny for image.

Glabrocingulum ellenae Gastropod

This fossil is a rare find called Glabrocingulum ellenae pyritized gastropod. It was found in the Coral Ridge Member of the New Providence Shale of Jefferson County, Kentucky. Dated to the Middle Mississippian Period (Osagean).

Pyritized Horn Coral - Amplexus fragilis

This is an interesting fossil in that it is pyritized and a horn coral. The identification appears to be Amplexus fragilis (White & St. John) of the Coral Ridge fauna, New Providence Shale of Jefferson County, Kentucky. Time period for this specimen is Middle Mississippian (Osagean).

Thanks to Alan for trading for this fossil.

Orbitremites kentuckiensis Blastoid

Today's posting is a super rare treat! The fossil shown here is a paratype of the blastoid Orbitremites kentuckiensis.  This fossil is one of two left in the personal collection of Dr. James Conkin who named it.  The holotypes are stored at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM PAL 127316): CLICK HERE TO SEE.   Amazingly, the Smithsonian has imaged these specimens in their database.  It is rare that I find specimens in their HUGE database that have been imaged.  Maybe they like pyritized blastoids which appear to be very rare.  The fossils might also consist of marcasite which if not properly stored can break down (pyrite disease) into melanterite and sulphuric acid.

Dr. Conkin tells the story of discovering the Coral Ridge Member (New Providence Formation or Knobstone Group) of Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA in 1957 and the pyrite fossil fauna there in his 2006 paleontological memoir "I SEE... WONDERFUL THINGS" on pages 101-103. He describes the area as "a frozen paradise of former life."  The book contains a bittersweet story about what happened to the third paratype specimen as a squirrel mistook it for a nut.

This is a very interesting book filled with images of fossils and stories of how they were found throughout his long career.  The locations range from China to throughout the United States (e.g. Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas).

Dr. Conkin also found another new species of this blastoid named Orbitremites coralridgensis.  The holotype (USNM PAL 127324) can be seen at the Smithsonian collection web site: CLICK HERE. Note the genus may now be known as Globoblastus.

Copies of this unique book might still be obtained from Hycliffe Publishing, LLC

P.O. Box 7434
Louisville, KY 40207-0434
TELEPHONE: (502) 895-4658
E-mail me at louisvillefossils@gmail.com if you need help getting in contact with them.

worldcat.org lists two copies available at libraries in the University of Iowa and Tulsa, Oklahoma: CLICK HERE

Thanks to Dr. Conkin for letting me photograph this fossil specimen.  Note fossil has been coated to help prevent marcasite breakdown.