Search the Community

Hi again, Fossil Forum! I've got a stone which I think is wood, but it's iffy enough for me to ask for a second opinion. Found in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. There is a lot of it out here! Anyway, let me know what you think! Size is roughly 3.5 cm wide, 3.5 cm tall, 1.5 cm thick at its thickest edge.

Hi all, I found an odd, almost perfectly round ball in the desert. At first I thought it was an old ball bearing, but it's not metal. Maybe a coprolite? Or just an average rock that happens to be round... It's 15mm in diameter, found in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. I've found other fossils in the area including petrified wood and brachiopods. Thanks for any assistance, Tekk

I would like to ask the experts on this forum for some help in identifying this jaw fragment. It contains two complete teeth (molars?). It is from a deposit west of Cuba, New Mexico, and is, as you can see, pretty small. The teeth are complete and look like they belong to an adult animal. They are not very worn. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!

Hopefully, this will be the last time I post on this fauna until I announce the finished publication! I had originally identified this as a cretodus, but after reviewing Everhart and Welton, I am having very serious doubts as to the validity of this ID. The teeth are both labially and lingually striated. The lingual striations look totally different than the pattern found on the scapanorhynchids. The teeth have accessory cusplets, sometimes two on a side. The base of the teeth are more robust than that of scapanorhynchids, too. As you can tell by the photos, even the worn teeth have pronounced striations. Any help at to identifying these teeth to genus (maybe even species?) level would be wonderful! Thanks!

Hey all! I have this tooth that appears to be a cretodus. It has plications on both the labial and lingual faces, with the lingual plications being smaller than the labial. Cretodus so far. Iy measures 3.88 mm in height and 3.42 mm mesio-distally, The problem arises with the accessory cusps. Welton and Farish state that Cretodus semiplicatus only has one accessory cusp on each side of the main cusp. Although one side of the cusps is missing, the other side obviously has two cusps. Was Welton and Farish mistaken, or is this tooth not even cretodus? Thanks! Randy

Was hiking a trail in nw New Mexico and kicked this. Strange weight, shape, texture for a rock. Bumpy all over with holes in each end. Anyone know what it is?

Hello from New Mexico! I have been collecting the odd fossil or two for about two years now, so I'm pretty new to the fossil scene. Thanks for having me! I actually joined back in last October, but forgot to this and then promptly went inactive. Now that I'm becoming more active I remembered to do this. So here's a very belated hello from New Mexico!

New Mexico mammoths among best evidence for early humans in North America by University of Texas at Austin The paper is: Rowe, T.B., Stafford Jr, T.W., Fisher, D.C., Enghild, J.J., Quigg, J.M., Ketcham, R.A., Sagebiel, J.C., Hanna, R. and Colbert, M.W., 2022. Human Occupation of the North American Colorado Plateau∼ 37,000 Years Ago. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, no. 534. (open access paper) Formation and Taphonomy of Quaternary Fossil Accumulations: Advances and New Perspectives Yours, Paul H.

This has me stumped! An orectolobid, but what? I am assuming it is a cantioscyllium, but it doesn't have the cusps that most fish of this genus have. Unlike C. decipiens, there are no strong striations. Instead, there are some small ones on the labial edge, and the lingual edge has a kind of rim. Also, there is one small transverse striae found on either side of the mesial ridge. Any ideas? There are four teeth discovered in this fauna, so they can't be pathological. Thanks!

I'm coming to the experts once again! This is a very strange ptychotrygon tooth. It appears to be P. triangularis, but it is so elliptical. The low crown is similar to some of Bourdon's P. eutawensis, but according to Woodward's original description, there is a bit of ornamentation on the labial apron, which this doesn't have. Could this simply be a pathological tooth? Thanks!

I took a geology excursion a couple of weeks ago, and had the chance to explore the I-40 road cut through the Gallup Hogback east of Gallup, New Mexico. Rather to my surprise, I came across a nice oyster horizon within the Mancos Shale. I realize the preservation is sketchy enough to make precise identification difficult. I'm wondering if these might be "baby" Inoceramus. I'll try to post some better pictures of samples I brought home later. And, since I consider myself lucky if I even get the right phylum -- I suppose another possibility is ostracods.

I'm going to be taking a trip to the southwest (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and possibly Texas) pretty soon, and I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas as to where I could go fossil hunting. I'll provide the specific areas we'll be traveling to; I also previously lived in Colorado and have already found a few good sites, but would definitely be open to any other suggestions. Colorado seems pretty promising with some good fossil quarries (Florrisant Fossil Hunting and the Morrison Museum), and I grew up with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as well as Dinosaur Ridge. I'll mostly be in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. Utah is where I'm having a bit of trouble; I've heard it's definitely fossil country, but I can't find a lot of tours or places where you're actually able to take fossils home from. The main one I'm thinking of right now is the U-Dig Fossil Quarry, although I don't have any other ideas as to where we'll be going in Utah (wherever the fossils take us, I suppose!) so we're likely just going to plan around where we hear the best fossil sites are. New Mexico is a state we're visiting not just to find dinos, but to see the lovely Santa Fe, which is the main area we'll be near. We don't really have any plans as to where we can go for fossils yet, but I assume there might be some good spots we can hit along the way. Texas is kind of up in the air right now. I found some amazing fossils last time in Glen Rose, and intend to return there as long as my family is also willing to make the trip. It's a bit far, but if anyone knows of any other fossil sites that would be worth visiting around the Fort Worth/upper Texas area, I would love to hear about them. I have a feeling we'll be able to go back there as long as we don't stray too far into inner Texas (i.e. anything further down from Dallas). Hopefully this is in the right place, and I would love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thanks in advance!

I found this on BLM Land near Guadalupe Mountains National Park. No idea what it is. At one point I was hopeful it was a mammoth tusk. Help?

This stone was found 40 years ago in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. I am trying to date the fossils. I guess it is Cretaceous but I am a newbie.

I have collected quite a few interesting fossils from the Redonda formation, and I will be posting to this thread as I take photos. Two very large vertebrae to start- likely belonging to the Phytosaur Redondasaurus.

I have gone through all of my Redonda formation teeth, and think these ones are likely theropod, possible Coelophysis. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Tooth 1: 7mm long, serrations ~8/mm along middle of posterior edge.

My wife and I had a Belize trip scheduled last week to celebrate our 9th anniversary, but canceled it last minute to avoid Covid related travel inconvenience. Taking travel logistics back into our own hands, we threw together an impromptu driving itinerary to some wonderful parts of northern New Mexico, courtesy of our tenured friend, Pee Fooley. While Pee couldn’t join us, my wife’s Jeep faithfully delivered us to panoramic environs many miles off pavement. The air was crisp, skies clear, and the ground was dry. Biting winds kept us bundled up. I figured cell service might be spotty, so we clipped old school walkie talkies to ourselves, because married people still walk at their own pace, ha! The first cuesta we visited seemed promising, so off we went across the desert floor to the foot of the bluff composed of Carlile Shale (equivalent of Eagle Ford Grp of Texas) capped by Semilla sandstone.

I found this in the hills between Lordsburg and Silver City, New Mexico. Appears to be 90 percent chalcedony or quartz. Made up of small grains all oriented along the length of the stone. Thanks.

Going through some scapanorhynchus teeth to photograph for a museum bulletin I'm working on, I came across this tooth. It is different in that there seems to be at least one striation on the labial face. The striations on the lingual face are pretty distinct, but seem to be worn (depositional wear?). Could the labial striation also be depositional wear? But the really odd thing is the pair of cusplets. Scapanorhynchus raphiodon and Scapanorhynchus puercoensis are both found within 25 miles of this site, but the cusplets on these species are smaller in relation to the main cusp, and are more pointed. In Bourdon's NMMNHS Bulletin 52, there is a photo of S. sp. cf. tenuis (Figure 15, image I bottom left) that shows a tooth with two accessory cusplets on either side of the main cusp. However there is not a noticeable gap between the two cusplets found on either side of the main cusp. Could this tooth simply be pathological, or might I have missed the species entirely? Thanks for your help!

Hey all, I am having a heck of a time trying to identify this tooth. Both Shimada and Kirkland suggest that it is a schlerorhynchid, but I have not found anything in the literature that resembles this morphology. The shoulders of the tooth are slightly oriented labially, the apical cusp is rounded (due to deposition or weathering? If so, why is the keel still so pronounced?), there are no transverse ridges, there is a fairly large lingual uvula, and there is a single arched lingual ridge on each shoulder. This one has me stumped! Any and all help will be greatly appreciated! Randy

I don't believe these are fossils given they are found in metamorphic rock. Lengthwise, the longest 'tube' shape is over 6 feet. Age of the formations is approximately 200 million years. No idea of the rock formation as I was just out wandering back into some canyons northwest of Las Cruces, NM about 20 miles. Robledo Mountains but not in the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Decent sized volcanic plug about 0.75 miles away with intrusive igneous formations spread throughout the area. By observation in the photo there are 4 'tubes'. 2 pairs of 2 tubes. They appear to be relatively straight with a slight spiral (maybe) of the material. Maybe. Zoom into the largest tube in the center of the photo for my lack of conviction. My thought was maybe solid magma tube except that would be igneous. Sorry, no better photos. These were 8 feet above ground on a near vertical wall. It was tough but I did get close enough climbing the wall to dislodge 2 small specimens. Those are yet to be cleaned for final inspection under magnification but there was no discernable organic structures at first glance. No way to get a close-up one handed on that rock face either. Any ideas? I passed many of these outcrops and only this one had any such oddities.

Hey all, does anyone know of a good source of information for the identification of orectolobiformes? Or someone I could contact concerning these sharks? I have five teeth that most likely belong to different species, but have been having a hard time with their IDs. I am going through Cappetta's 2012 handbook, have gone through Welton and Farish, and looked up orectolobiformes on the Fossil Forum, to no avail. I will most likely be posting pictures later today or tomorrow. Thanks!

Bought this piece at a Rock and Mineral show and according to the specimen labels that were included with the specimen. It has passed through at least 3 different fossil dealers. Each one stating the following information: Crocodile Scapula Locality: San Juan, NM, (USA) Now I suspect this piece is from the Triassic time period and could possibly belong to a large Temnospondyl amphibian and is a skull fragment not a scapula. Does anyone here recognize the patterning and thickness change enough to give an educated guess as to what it might actually be from? Also, the glue attached to the specimen is fairly thick and hard. Any suggestions regarding how to remove it without causing harm to the fossil? As you can see my attempts at trying to pick off the glue, takes the surface of the fossil with it leaving an annoying white spot. I may have quickly tried acetone if I remember correctly but nothing happened.

These tiny teeth (?) have me stumped, as did a bit of the Cabezon fauna I am working on. This site has been very helpful in identifying some of the rarer fossils, and I am asking for your help once again. At first glance, I thought these four dots were fungal or some other type of current plant material, but examining them under a microscope I am pretty convinced these have enameloid structures. Any idea of what they could be from? I am assuming some form of teleost at this time. Thanks for all of the help, past, present, and future!

A number of collectors are very interested in Triassic Dinosaur tooth material, however, lots of misinformation exists, partially because little is known and dealers want to sell product. My knowledge is very limited so I tried to put together an assemblage of current information that has been published so that we can all become better versed on this topic. I'm not saying its complete but its the best I can do with my limited knowledge. Most technical papers on this subject are outdated, difficult to read for a novice and not complete enough. Fortunately a recent, legible paper was published in 2015 by Heckert & Lucas that has helped me. I've tried to extract the pertinent information, associated with teeth, since that what most collectors are interested in. First let me get on my sandbox and say that we should NOT assume that what is being sold is accurately described regardless who is selling it or how much you like a dealer. Very little is known and even less is described. If a seller insists what he has identified is accurate, have him show you the technical documents that supports his diagnosis. There are a number of theropods and archosaurs in these assemblages that have serrated teeth so identification is difficult. Triassic dealers similar to those in the Kem Kem which label everthing Spinosaurus like to label everything Coelophysis. Just be cautious..its your money. Almost all the teeth you see sold come from New Mexico so I will focus in that region. A Map of New Mexico with the Triassic outcrops shown below as well as the associated Counties. The numbers correlate to the stratigraphic formations shown below in Figure 4. Figure 4 The Zuni Mountains in West-Central NM are from the lower Chinle Group (Bluewater Creek Fm) and contain Tetrapod fossils amphibians and phytosaurs and aetosaurs. Dinosaurs are possible but nothing is diagnostic. Faunal List of the lower Chinle Group Zuni Mountains Northern/West Central New Mexico has yielded some of the most interesting Vertebrate Fossils most associated with Coelophysis at Ghost Ranch. Included in this group are the Petrified Forest and Rock Point Formation of the western counties. Chindesaurus bryansmalli, Tawa hallae and Daemonosaurus chauliodus are considered valid a dinosaurs in the Petrified Forest Fm. Coelophysis bauri is valid from the Rock Point Formation. Faunal List of the Petrified Forest and Rock Point Formation - Key on this list is Coelophysis bauri in the Rock Point Fm Northeasten New Mexico (Bull Canyon and Redonda Formations). Heckerts 2015 paper comments that dinosaur fossils remains are rare in the Bull Canyon Formation. The coelophysoid Gojirasaurus quayi has been described but its taxonomic placement is uncertain. Herrerasauridae tooth fragments have been found but nothing has been assigned to a taxon. Heckerts & Lucas 2015 Paper on Triassic Vertebrate Paleontology in New Mexico https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/f/Heckert_Andrew_triassic.pdf Bull Canyon Formation 2001 Paper on Vertebrate Fauna https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/52/52_p0123_p0151.pdf Latest placement ( Hans-Dieter Sues et al 2011 ) Coelophysis bauri Formation: Petrified Forest (Chinle Formation) Location: New Mexico, USA Other occurrences: cf Coelophysis may be found in other late Triassic exposures Characteristics: Most all the teeth are recurved Lots of variation is seen in these dentition Some mesial teeth have only distal denticles. Fluted ridges can be see on juveniles The enamel surface texture is braided Marginal and transverse undulations appear to be absent on most crowns.. Premaxillary teeth: rounded cross-section, smaller teeth are ribbed but smooth on larger ones. None show serrations. Maxillary Teeth: the first tooth is recurved with no serrations, second tooth has serrations only on the posterior carina. All the other maxillary teeth have serrations on both edges. Some of the teeth the serrations may be limited to the upper part of the anterior (mesial) edge. Dentary Teeth: the first seven teeth lack serrations, eight tooth serrations only on the posterior edge. Subsequent teeth have serrations on both edges. The first four teeth are elliptical (rounded) in cross-section being compressed after that. Measurements: (From Hendrickx 2019 study) (2 Premax, 15 Maxillary, 3 Dentary) (Not all crowns had serrations) Dentary Density: 40 to 45 / 5mm (Avg 40.0 / 5mm) Maxillary Density: 35 to 50 / 5mm (Avg 15 / 5mm) Average Ratio's: Premax CHR: 3.6, CBR: 0.4 Maxillary CHR: 1.6, CBR: 0.4 Dentary CHR: 2.4, CBR: 0.5 The Museum of Northern Arizona publication Coelophysis describes the teeth as follows: Distal Carina Denticles (Source on colored images C. Hendrickx) Skull characterized by fluted teeth in juveniles, procumbent mesial dentary and maxillary teeth. Also some unserrated mesial crowns Some mesial teeth have only distal denticles. The mesial carina is straight and extends well above the root in lateral teeth. The enamel surface texture is braided and marginal and transverse undulations appear to be absent on most crowns.. (2 photos) Fluted ridges can be see on juveniles Additional images Premaxillary, Maxillary and Dentary teeth shown - Striations visible Anterior maxillary tooth #2 Maxillary Tooth #4 Maxillary tooth #10 Maxillary denticles M#5 Dentary tooth Posterior Maxillary Tooth Paper on Coelophsis Teeth by Currie and Buckley Coelophisis.pdf Additional images of the teeth with no supporting info Good overall paper on C. bauri but does nothing to increase our knowledge on how to describe its teeth https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292525024_The_paleobiology_of_Coelophysis_bauri_Cope_from_the_Upper_Triassic_Apachean_Whitaker_quarry_New_Mexico_with_detailed_analysis_of_a_single_quarry_block Ken Carpenter described these teeth from the Bull Canyon fm as cf Coelophysis. A few skulls Other Theropods Gojirasaurus quayi : one tooth was described with the holotype however it was found isolated and cannot be positively assigned to this species. (Added a few pages below) Chindesaurus bryansmalli : not aware of any skeletal material Daemonosaurus chauliodus Characteristics: Characterized by 3 large premaxillary teeth, first 2 dentary teeth are procumbent, longitudinal ridges on the crowns, some constricted teeth, and hooked mesial denticles A Premaxillary Teeth #3 B Maxillary Teeth C Posterior most Maxillary Teeth Reference on Daemonosaurus: The osteology of the early-diverging dinosaur Daemonosaurus chauliodus (Archosauria: Dinosauria) from the Coelophysis Quarry (Triassic: Rhaetian) of New Mexico and its relationships to other early dinosaurs STERLING J. NESBITT and HANS-DIETER SUES http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royprsb/278/1723/3459.full.pdf Tawa hallae : http://www.thefossilforum.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=503864 Characteristics All preserved premaxillary, maxillary and dentary teeth seem to be fluted on both sides Premaxillary are unserrated Maxillary teeth with a mesial denticulated carina reaching the root Interdenticular sulci present on both mesial and distal edges Teeth are very pointy Fifth? left maxillary tooth Scale: 1 cm images from C. Hendrickx twitter feed