Toxochelys latiremis Sea Turtle Fossil

The sea turtle fossil pictured is a Toxochelys latiremis found in the Pierre Shale Formation of Kansas, USA.  This area was part of the Western Interior Seaway that divided what is today North America into two land masses. It dates back 75 million years ago (Upper Cretaceous Period).

The fossil is part of the Cincinnati Museum Center collection (accession number VP6947). It was gift to the museum from Jerome "Pete" Bussen.

Fossil on display at Cincinnati Museum of Natural History & Science as of August 2013.

Nematonotus longispinus Fish Fossil

This fossil fish is called Nematonotus longispinus. It was found in the Hjoula limestones of Lebanon. The fossil dates to the Upper Cretaceous Period (Cenomanian Stage). Learn more about Lebanese fish fossils at collectingfossils.org.

The museum specimen's accession number is CMC VP9876.

This fossil was part of the Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana exhibit at the Museum of Natural History and Science in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was photographed in August 2013. The dinosaur exhibit was created by the Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto Canada.

The exhibit was supported by Associate Exhibit Sponsor Frisch's restaurant and Promotional Partners Cincinnati Reds baseball, newspaper The Enquirer and TV channel Local 12 WKRO Cincinnati.

Brachiospongia tuberculata Fossil

This fossil is much sought after because it is quite rare to find. It is a sponge fossil called Brachiospongia tuberculata.  The fossil dates to the Ordovician Period. The genus was originally described by Marsh in 1867 in the American Journal of Science and Arts. A different species was described by Henry Nettelroth(1835-1887) in his 1889 Fossils of the Silurian and Devonian Rocks.

On display at Cincinnati Museum Center as of August 2013. It is labeled a type specimen and apparently found in July 1879.

Learn more at UGA Stratigraphy Lab web site.