Cephalopod Fossil Almost as Tall as Door

While on a recent visit to the Musée de Mineralogie (Mineralogy Museum) located at the MINES ParisTech, 60 Boulevard Saint-Michel 75006 Paris France, a saw the most amazing fossil. It was a straight shelled cephalopod fossil that was over a meter long. I think the label listed in French read Orthoceras Paleozoic.

The fossil reminds me of the Ordovician cephalopod fossils we find in Kentucky but on a so much larger scale. I was surprised to find it in a mineral museum and not one on paleontology.

If you get a chance visit the museum in Paris and see this specimen for yourself. The museum appeared to be located on the 2nd floor of a university building and it appeared to be staffed by students and professors. There was a small admission fee. The brochure describes it as the cases and architecture as being from the middle 19th century (no A/C). Over 4,000 specimens are on display that belong to a collection of over 100,000 with some added to the collection over 250 years ago.

Learn more at their web site: www.musee.mines-paristech.fr

Sphenodiscus Aragonite Ammonite Fossil

Picture of aragonite ammonite shell fossil of a Sphenodiscus sp. The creature existed the late Cretaceous Period Upper Maastrichtian stage. Fossil was found in Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota USA. Specimen was on display at the Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle Minéralogie et Géologie in Paris France (August 2016).

Learn more here:
http://www.mnhn.fr/fr/visitez/lieux/galerie-mineralogie-geologie

Opal Belemnite Fossils

The original aragonite internal shell dissolved and was replaced by opal in these belemnite fossils. They existed the Cretaceous Period. Fossils were found in Coober Pedy, Australia. Specimen was on display at the Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle Minéralogie et Géologie in Paris France (August 2016).

Learn more here:
http://www.mnhn.fr/fr/visitez/lieux/galerie-mineralogie-geologie

Hexagonaria hexagona Coral

Middle Devonian Period coral fossil found in Givet (Ardennes) stored in Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.  The coral is called Hexagonaria hexagona (Goldfuss).

Skoliophyllum lamellosum Coral

Middel Devonian Period coral fossil found in Gerolstein (Allemagne) stored in Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.  Coral is called Skoliophyllum lamellosum (Goldfuss).

Keriophyllum Coral

Middle Devonian Period coral fossil found in Thedford (Ontario, Canada) stored in Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.  Coral is called Keriophyllum sp.

Mochlophyllum maximum

Middle Devonian Period coral fossil found in Gerolstein (Allemagne) stored in Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.  Coral is called Mochlophyllum maximum (Schluter).

Cryptoclidus oxoniensis

Pictures taken at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, France.  Doing some research on the new movie that is now showing at the Louisville Science Center IMAX called Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World, I found these marine reptile images I took last year.  The natural history museum building is shown in the film in a re-creation of a historical paleontological event.  I need to see this film again and might have some future comments about some of the historical scenes shown in this movie.

The fossil of the marine reptile shown in these pictures are of the Cryptoclidus oxoniensis found in England.  It is a type of plesiosaur from the Middle Jurassic Period.  See this link on Wikipedia for more information.

Arachnophyllum Coral

This coral is found in the Louisville Limestone and existed during the Middle Silurian Period (428-422 million years ago). It was called Arachnophyllum sp. and was found in Louisville, Kentucky.

E.C. Stumm's book Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio list a number of species of Arachnophyllum. The first is Arachnophyllum pentagonum (originally called Strombodes pentagonum, 1826) by George August Goldfuss its holotype is stored at the Paleontologisches Institut, Bonn University in Germany.

The next species is Arachnophyllum striatum (Favastraea striata, 1850) named by Alcide d'Orbigny. Its holotype is probably at the École des Mines in Paris, France. The picture below is of a specimen on display at the Natural History Museum in Paris, France.

The Arachnophyllum sinemurum was named by William J. Davis in 1887 (Strombodes sinemurus). The lectotype (specimen 8072 - now MCZ 105622) is stored at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Edward Oscar Ulrich named Arachnophyllum separatum (Strombodes separatus, 1886).  Its holotype is in the Greene collection at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, New York.


William J. Davis described the Arachnophyllum quadrangulare (Strombodes quadrangularis, 1887) in the monograph Kentucky Fossil Corals.  The holotype (specimen 8059 - now MCZ 105625) is stored at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The geologist and artist with ties to New Harmony, Indiana, David Dale Owen is credited with describing the Arachnophyllum mammillare (Astrea mammillaris, 1844).  E.C. Stumm did not list a location of the holotype.

French Eocene Snail Fossils

Snail fossils from Parnes (Oise), France from the Eocene Epoch and Lutetian Stage (40-48 million years ago). This first fossil is called Potamides tricarinatus.

This next fossil is called Rhinoclavis striatus from Chaumont (Oise) France.

This fossil is called Turritella terbellata found in Chaumont (Oise) France.

This last fossil is Clavilithes parisiensis found in Damery (Marne), France.

All fossils were photographed on display at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

Lyme Regis Ammonites

After researching Mary Anning the other day, I got to thinking if any of her fossils might be on display at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée in Paris, France.  So I reviewed some of the fossil pictures from my last visit and voila... ammonite pictures from Lyme Regis, England.

I do not know if any of these ammonites pictured were found by Mary Anning.  They were in the display cases of the museum and their collections appear to be quite old.  So it would be really special if any of these fossils were actually found by her.

This first ammonite fossil is called Androgynoceras sp. and is from Jurassic Period (Lower Lias).  The fossil was found in Lyme Regis, England.

Next ammonite fossil is Amaltheus margaritatus Montfort from the Jurassic Period (Middle Lias).  Fossil was found in Lyme Regis, England.

 

This ammonite fossil is the Liparoceras bechei Sowerby of the Jurassic Period (Lower Lias).  Also found in Lyme Regis, England.

 

This coiled ammonite fossil is called Lytoceras fimbriatum Sowerby found at Lyme Regis, England.  The creature existed in the Jurassic Period (Middle Lias).

 

Okay, the picture is not great but the ammonite fossil is called Oxynoticeras lymensis Wright of the Jurassic Period (Lower Lias).  Fossil discovered in Lyme Regis, England.

 

Pleuroceras spinatum Bruguiere ammonite fossils of the Jurassic Period found in Lyme Regis, England.

 

Wikipedia has a picture of a casting at the museum of a Plesiosaurus macrocephalus she found.

Insect Fossils from the Carboniferous

The following insect fossils are on display in Paris, France at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée. Note, I have changed the contrast on a lot of these fossil images to make the fossil standout from the rock matrix.

UPDATED: I would like to thank Dr. Sam Heads, a paleoentomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, for providing detailed comments about the images on this post. His observations are in quotes throughout this posting. Find out more about Dr. Heads research at this site: http://myprofile.cos.com/swheads

I believe all these insect fossils are from the Carboniferous Period. This insect fossil looks like some sort of dragonfly. It was called Isophlebia aspasia.

"Isophlebia aspasia (Hagen, 1862) is a dragonfly (order
Odonata) of the family Isophlebiidae. This specimen is from the
Late Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Bavaria, Germany."


This next one looks like a water skater. It is called Pygolampis gigantea and is probably from Germany.

"Pygolampis gigantea Germar, 1839 is now known to be a
junior synonym of Chresmoda obscura Germar, 1839. These
insects belong in the unusual extinct family Chresmodidae; a
polyneopterous group which may be related to the stick insects
(order Phasmatodea). This specimen is also from the Late
Jurassic of Solnhofen."


These last two pictures are of the Meganeura monyi found in Allier, France. NOTE: I was getting some major reflections from the posters hanging on the walls on the case glass when taking some of these pictures. Ahhh!

"Meganeura monyi (Brogniart, 1893) is one of the giant
members of the Paleozoic order Protodonata (or 'griffenflies') and
belongs in the family Meganeuridae. This specimen is from the
famous Carboniferous (Stephanian) coal measures of
Commentry, Allier, France."

Carboniferous Insect Fossils

The following insect fossils are on display in Paris, France at the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée.

UPDATED: Thanks to Howard from Canada for his comment and research. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Sam Heads, a paleoentomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, for providing detailed comments about the images on this post. His observations are in quotes throughout this posting. Find out more about Dr. Heads research at this site: http://myprofile.cos.com/swheads

I believe all these insect fossils are from the Carboniferous Period. This insect fossil looks like some sort of dragonfly. It was called Mischoptera nigra.

"Mischoptera nigra Brogniart, 1885 is one of the haustellate
insects assigned to the extinct palaeodictyopterid order
Megasecoptera. This specimen is also from the Carboniferous
deposits of Commentry, France."

Another dragonfly fossil called Aeschna speciosa.


Either this fossil was not identified or I did not take a picture of its label.


This dragonfly was called Nannogomphus gracilis and looking at its label was probably found somewhere in Germany.

"Nannogomphus gracilis Meunier, 1896 is a dragonfly of the
family Nannogomphidae from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen
Limestone of Bavaria, Germany."


The next two pictures are of posters hanging above the cases where the insect fossils were on display. If you click on them, they should expand to show more detail.



An unidentified insect fossil that may or may not have had a label. The same is true for the next two images after that.

"In addition, the penultimate two images of this post appear to be
primitive roachoids (stem-group Dictyoptera) related to modern
cockroaches and are probably from Commentry."

Fossils at Notre Dame Cathedral

When I was in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral was a definite stop. I decided to go up in one of the towers. It is quite a wait to get up to the top but provides a great view of the city. When I was up in one of the towers I noticed quite a bit of fossiliferous rock. The statues of chimeras and gargoyles contain fossils.


This appears to be some sort of clam.


Lots of molds of gastropod shells.


Imprint of a gastropod


I am not sure are these chimeras or gargoyles or something else. That one on the left looks like an elephant.

Visit to Museum of Natural History in Paris, France

If you visit Paris, France then consider a visit to the Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée. Anyone interested in fossils or zoology should visit this historic building in Paris, France.

This posting will discuss the Gallery of Paleontology located on the first and second floors. The Gallery of Comparative Anatomy is located on the ground floor. According to their English language brochure, the specimens there allow the study to distinguish and classification of species and groups. It consists of approximately 1,000 mounted skeletons including the rare Norwhal or "sea unicorn" and the living fossil fish coclacanth.

The first level contains the vertebrate fossils from the Cambrian, Mesozoic, Tertiary, and Quaternary Eras.

My visit to the museum was mostly spent on the 2nd level with the invertebrate fossil collection. All of the displays and posters are in French so it was difficult for an English speaker to understand. Fortunately, a lot of the French names are very similar to English or Latin nomenclature. The second level is not a complete floor but an extended balcony that extends around the huge building's perimeter. A skylight encompasses almost the length of the roof that provides natural lighting to the second and first levels. The building was opened in 1898 and designed by architect Ferdinand Dutert.

Invertebrate paleontology was brought to the forefront in the middle 19th century by Alcide d'Orbigny with a collection of 10,000 fossils. This famous naturalist/paleontologist has a coral named after him found in the Louisville area called Hadrophyllum orbigny (Edwards & Haime, 1851).

The invertebrate section contains the following groups: Molluscs, Annelides, Bryozoa, Brachiopodes, Corals, Foraminifers, Echinoderms, Insects, Crustaceans, Trilobites, Xiphosura, Arachnids, Ammonites, Cephalopods/Belemnites, Nautiloids, and Gastropods. The collection of cephalopods seemed exceptionally large and appeared to be of special interest to d'Orbigny. 

Some of the notable fossils to see were in the coral section. A Siphonophrentis gigantea horn coral fragments from the Chutes de l'Ohio (Falls of the Ohio).

In the First Fossil section, a display case contained 3 billion year old stromatolites from the Africian Sahara. These early life forms were the oxygen and lime producers for our planet allowing more advanced organisms to develop.

Another interesting fossil was of huge dragonfly wings and body part impressions on shale. There were a number of Crawfordsville, Indiana crinoid calyx and stems. It was good to see the number of fossils displayed from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. It appeared that large sections of their collection came from countries that France was associated with in the past: Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt.

Some fossils seen from this state and surrounding ones: Hallopora dalei (Covington, KY), Amplexopora petasiformia (Cincinnati, OH), Amplexopora filiosa (Cincinnati, OH), Hallopora ramosa (Cincinnati, OH), Bythopora gracilis (Cincinnati, OH), Heterotrypa frondosa (Cincinnati, OH), Constellaria constellata (Newport, KY), Byssonichia radiata (Waynesville, OH), Calymene niagarensis (Ohio), Flexicalymene senaria (Ohio), Pentremites sulcatus (Chester, IL), Pentremites godoni (Monroe, IL), Nucleocrinus verneuili (Columbus, OH), Gilbertsocrinus tuberosus (Crawfordsville, IN), Actinocrinus multiramosus (Indiana), Dizygocrinus indianensis (Crawfordsville, IN), Dichocrinus polydactylus (Crawfordsville, IN), Agaricocrinus splendens (Indiana), Glyptocrinus decadactylus (Cincinnati, OH), Glyptocrinus decadactylus (Waynesville, OH), Platycrinites hemisphaericus (Crawfordsville, IN), Halysites catenularia (Kentucky), Zaphrentis cf. phrygia (Ohio), Streptelasma sp. (Richmond, IN), Phaulactis sp. (Falls of the Ohio), Arachnophyllum striatum (Kentucky), and Streptelasma sp. (Madison, IN).

The blastoid specimens from Illinois reminded me of similar ones found at Sulphur, Indiana.

On the first level, it was good to see a Devonian Period armored fish Dunkleosleus from Ohio. I could not find any Devonian sharks though.

Other notable dinosaurs found there were: Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Diplodocus.

The museum is located in the Jardin Des Plantes found in 5ème arrondissement on the left bank of the Seine river. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 except Tuesdays and May 1. Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays from April through the end of September from 10:00 to 18:00. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing. Adult admission is 7 Euros. I would recommend allocating at least two hours to allow you browse all the displays. Visit www.mnhn.fr on the Internet for more information. It is a great place to visit if your interest lies in this type of science. As a bonus there is a beautiful garden next to the building with a wide variety of flowers to see. In addition, there is also a mineral museum. Compared to some of the other famous sites of Paris: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral, this site is sparsely visited by tourists. I am guessing when I was there maybe 50 people were in the entire building. While the small attendance can make for an easier time to study the displays, it means that not many resources are available for cleaning and maintenance. It seemed like 25% of the fossil display cabinets did not have working illumination lights. One end of the room had just empty display cases. The walls had grime/dust on them where visitors had used their fingers to write names on the wall. These conditions made me sad to see such a grand fossil collection assembled by some of the historic French paleontologists in this state.

Picture of the Jardin Des Plantes next to the museum building.