AMNH Video Tour of Trilobite Collection

 

On Friday, July 24, 2020 the American Museum of Natural History streamed live a presentation by Melanie Hopkins Associate Curator in the Division of Paleontology and PhD student Ernesto Vargas-Parra. They hosted a brief virtual tour of part of the museum's trilobite collection on the fifth floor. 

At around 1:45, it looks like they start off with a famous locality for Cambrian trilobites from Utah. Around 8:20 in the video, a Silurian Trimerus trilobite fossil shows up maybe from New York's Rochester Shale. The next plate has quite a few trilobites mixed with brachiopods with maybe some being Calymene. At 9:40 a cluster of Silurian Dalmanites trilobite fossils followed by a box with three more Trimerus and ending with one large Trimerus. What looks like an Estonian graptolite fossil shows up at the 12:20 mark in the video. It looks somewhat odd to me being white as all the graptolite fossils I tend to find are black. By the time the video is at 18 minute mark, I think they are looking at Moroccan trilobite fossils.

I visited the museum in July 2018 and I do not recall very many trilobite fossils being no display so this video was a great way to see the collection area that few members of the public get to see. When I was there, I found a display case in the lower level with some wonderful display grade specimens. See picture above. I have documented most of the fossils seen in the case in previous postings on this blog.

If the video player does not display in your browser, here is the direct YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x4xI9KupaY Recently, every Friday at 1 PM EST they present another museum video, hopefully we will get to see some more of the fossil collection.

Cerithium Gastropod Fossil?

This internal mold of a gastropod fossil was given to me at a recent local geology meeting. The person who gave it to me said a batch of them was given to him by someone who thought they were from Missouri.

After doing some Internet searching I determined this fossil mostly like resembles the inside mold of a snail shell fossil being sold as a chalcedony or agate snail fossil from Morocco, Africa. I have seen it listed as found in the Atlas Mountains or Assa or Dakla Oued ed Dahab Lagouira in Morocco.

The fossil might date to the Eocene Epoch. It might be a Turtella or Cerithium. I thought it might be fluorescent but it did not under long wave ultraviolet light. Thanks to Dale for the fossil.

Ancyloceras Heteromorph Ammonite Fossils

Fossils in picture are Ancyloceras heteromorph ammonite fossils. They date to the Cretaceous Period (115 million years ago) and were found in Morocco. The fossils were on display at a northern Indiana USA museum.


The museum is called Joshua Tree Earth and Space Museum and is located at 106. S. Michigan Street, Lakeville, Indiana. Admission is free but they could use the donations. They are open 10 AM to 6 PM daily and can be reached at 574-784-2291.

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Drotops armatus Trilobite Fossil

This trilobite fossil was on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The trilobite fossil is named Drotops armatus. It was found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and dates to the Devonian Period. Accession number is Fl-84362. Donated by Andy Secher.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Their trilobite exhibit was made possible by Dr. Martin Shugar, M.D. and Andy Secher who are also editors for the AMNH trilobite web site.

Dicranurus monstrosus Trilobite Fossil

This trilobite fossil was on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The trilobite fossil is named Dicranurus monstrosus. It was found in the Megrane Formation, Atlas Mountains of Morocco and dates to the Devonian Period. Accession number is Fl-83817. Donated by Martin Shugar, M.D.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Their trilobite exhibit was made possible by Dr. Martin Shugar, M.D. and Andy Secher who are also editors for the AMNH trilobite web site.

Walliserops trifurcatus Trilobite Fossil

This trilobite fossil was on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The trilobite fossil is named Walliserops trifurcatus. It was found in the Foum Zguid of Morocco and dates to the Devonian Period. Accession number is Fl-55553.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Their trilobite exhibit was made possible by Dr. Martin Shugar, M.D. and Andy Secher who are also editors for the AMNH trilobite web site.

Paradoxides gracilis Trilobite Fossil

I would like to dedicate this blog posting to the memory of Dr. Riccardo Levi-Setti, a noted trilobite researcher who died on November 8, 2018. He is known for the 1975 book Trilobites and research into their eyes.

This trilobite fossil was on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The trilobite fossil is named Paradoxides gracilis. It was found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and dates to the Cambrian Period. Accession number is Fl-80134 and was donated by Martin Shugar M.D.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Their trilobite exhibit was made possible by Dr. Martin Shugar, M.D. and Andy Secher who are also editors for the AMNH trilobite web site.

Notidanodon loozi Fossil Shark Teeth

This image is of Notidanodon loozi fossil shark teeth on display at Mace Brown Museum of Natural History (August 2017). This extinct animal was also known as a cow shark. It dates to the Paleocene Epoch (Thanetian, about 58 million years ago), Paleogene Period. The fossils were found in Descenderie D Basin (Ouled Abdoun) Morocco, North Africa.

The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is located at the College of Charleston, 202 Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor, Charleston, South Carolina 29424.

Learn more at their blog: http://blogs.cofc.edu/macebrownmuseum/

Ammonite Fossil from Morocco

This image is of Schloenbachia sp. ammonite fossil on display at Mace Brown Museum of Natural History (August 2017). They date to the Campanian Age (about 80 million years ago), Late Cretaceous Period. The fossil was found in Morocco.

The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is located at the College of Charleston, 202 Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor, Charleston, South Carolina 29424.

Learn more at their blog: http://blogs.cofc.edu/macebrownmuseum/

Hexanchus microdon Shark Fossil Teeth

These images are of Hexanchus microdon fossil shark teeth on display at Mace Brown Museum of Natural History (August 2017). This animal was also known as a six-gilled cow shark. They date to the Eocene Epoch (about 55-50 million years ago), Paleogene Period. The fossils were found in Atlas Mountains, phosphate pits Ouled Abdoun Basin Morocco.

The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is located at the College of Charleston, 202 Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor, Charleston, South Carolina 29424.

Learn more at their blog: http://blogs.cofc.edu/macebrownmuseum/

Solenastraea tizeroutinensis Coral Fossil

This picture is of a Solenastraea tizeroutinensis coral fossil. It was found in Tizerooutine, Morocco. Fossil dates back to the Miocene epoch, Neogene Period (Tortonien Stage).

Fossil displayed at the Museum of Natural History in Paris France August 2016.

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

Dicranurus monstruosus Trilobite Fossil

Here is a picture of a Dicranurus monstruosus trilobite fossil at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed in the Devonian Period. Fossil was found in Alnif, Morocco.

Image taken in June 2014.

Mosasaurus Teeth from Morocco

Here is a picture of a Mosasaurus fossil teeth set at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed in the upper Cretaceous Period. Fossil was found in Khouribya, Morocco.

Image taken in June 2014.

Fossil Preparation Videos of Crinoids and Trilobites

Here are two YouTube videos showing trilobite preparation lab back in 2005. That is an amazing plate they quarried so many crinoids and the other plate showing so many intact trilobites and a starfish. The location is Erfoud, Morocco. The trilobites shown in the video are Selenopeltis bucci, Asaphus, Onnia and Bornstrella.

The second shows more of the lab. They have quite a fossil inventory there!



Videos from YouTube user ajmiller82 and their web site is http://www.ancientearthtradingco.com/

Moroccan Trilobite Preparation Videos

Here are two YouTube videos showing trilobite preparation back in 2005. It is neat to see this work as there are so many Moroccan fossils on the market. We see the finished product here in America but these videos show how some of the material is prepared. The first video shows a Koneprusia brutoni Devonian trilobite from Oufaten, Alnif, Morocco being prepared through sand abrasion cleaning. That is one spiny trilobite!

The second shows a young man preparing a Devonian Phacops rana trilobite with a hammer and nail.



Videos from YouTube user ajmiller82 and their web site is http://www.ancientearthtradingco.com/

The Story of the World's Favorite Fossil

Here is a YouTube video from the SciShow channel. It claims that the Orthoceras cephalopod is the world's favorite fossil. They are showing a polished one from Morocco. Oddly enough, with all the fossils I have photographed on this blog, I have not photographed a Moroccan one. I guess they are the favorite because Moroccan fossil dealers extract and polish so many to sell worldwide. One can see them for sale at fossil shows and museum gift shops.

They publish videos on science news, history, and concepts. With over a million subscribers and almost 100 million total views, they have quite a viewing audience! As of this writing they have published 365 videos.

The video highlighted in this blog post has been downloaded almost 360,000 times as of this writing. That is really good for something about a fossil that does not relate to a dinosaur or the evolution debate. In a creative way to raise money for the SciShow video operation they sold 20 signed Orthoceras fossils for $50 each. They sold out according to this web site: https://subbable.com/scishow.  Here is their pledge video, wow just like PBS and NPR do. :) I wish them the best.

Paradoxides pinus? Trilobite Fossil

The label for this fossil says it is a Paradoxides pinus trilobite from the Paleozoic Era. I would guess it is some sort of Paradoxides trilobite from the Cambrian Period found in Morocco. If I recall this fossil is pretty large, maybe the size of dinner plate.

This fossil is on display at the geology department at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) of New Albany, Indiana as of August 2013.

Otodus obliquus Shark Tooth Fossil

Pictured is an Otodus obliquus shark tooth fossil found in Khouribga, Morocco. It dates to the Eocene. Learn more on wikipedia.org.

The fossil is on display at the geology department at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) of New Albany, Indiana as of August 2013.

Moroccan Cone Fossil

 These fossils were recently brought back from the Tucson Fossil Show. They are some sort of cone fossil that no one seems to know the name of. The time period others seem to be settling on is it is from the Eocene. Fossils were found in western Sahara, Morocco.

Thanks to Mark for letting me photograph them. Scale in picture is in inches.