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Sort of snake or worm (?) fossil found in Chianti, Tuscany
Sean Mainardi posted a topic in Fossil ID
Hello, some days a go I found these rocks in the loose earth of a Tuscan hill where they are doing terracing work for a new vineyard near San Donato in Poggio. Centimeters ruler. -
Libellula doris larva
Othniel C. Marsh posted a topic in Is It Real? How to Recognize Fossil Fabrications
Has this Libellula doris larva, from the Tortonian of Italy been painted on, heavily restored, or is it unrestored? Thanks in advance for any guidance Othniel -
Fossilized skin of Tridentinosaurus found to be modern paint
Oxytropidoceras posted a topic in Fossil News
Ancient Fossil That Baffled Scientists For Decades Finally Reveals Its True Identity, Michelle Starr, Nature, February 16, 2024 280-Million-Year-Old Mystery Solved As Forged Fossil's "Skin" Identified As Paint The "soft tissues" of this partial forgery were painted on, but it isn't a total fake. Rachael Funnell, IFL Science, February 16, 2024 The open access paper is; Rossi, V., Bernardi, M., Fornasiero, M., Nestola, F., Unitt, R., Castelli, S. and Kustatscher, E. (2024), Forged soft tissues revealed in the oldest fossil reptile from the early Permian of the Alps. Palaeontology, 67: e12690. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12690 Yours, Paul H.- 1 reply
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Milan (northern Italy) is the second largest city in Italy and my hometown. I’ve spent a good deal of my childhood and formative years in the natural history museum, getting to know it very well. I also have had the chance of volunteering for almost two years in the paleontology collections. The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale was founded in 1838. During WWII air raids, the authorities refused to evacuate the scientific collections to a safer area, despite the very high risks. In 1943, fire bombs hit the museum and its entire collection (save for a very limited number of specimens) was forever lost. This is one of the worst loss in the history of Italian science. After WWII the museum acquired new collections, by exchange, purchase or through scientific expeditions. Nowadays, it possibly ranks as first in terms of number of specimens, among the Italian museums. There are five sections open to the public: introduction to paleontology, the animal tree of life and evolution, the geologic time scale, the dinosaurs hall and the ‘treasures hall’. Contrary to other permanent exhibitions (such as the mineralogical and paleoanthropological one), the paleontology section has not been renovated in a long time (save for a handful of displays) and that is one of the major issues: almost every explanatory panel is only in Italian and sometimes not up to date. Despite all of this, the exhibits are highly enjoyable. Starting from the 1970s the museum staff has been involved in field work campaigns in Italy and abroad. Some of the most relevant finds are now exhibited to the public. These include, just to name a few, fossils from the Triassic of Besano (Italy) and Madagascar, from the Jurassic of Osteno (Italy), from the Cretaceous of Lebanon and, last but not least, dinosaurs. Relevant fossils, purchased in the last few years, are displayed in the ‘treasures hall’. Let’s dive into some photos! The next 9 pictures depict specimens from the Middle Triassic of Besano. Note that a few of them are casts, but the originals are kept in the museum’s collections. Neusticosaurus edwardsii, a nothosaur reptile. This is an historical specimen, being the first Besano reptile described in a scientific journal (1854), as well as one of the very few fossils that survived the WWII air raids. Serpianosaurus mirigiolensis, a carnivorous semiacquatic nothosaur Mixosaurus cornalianus, the most abundant ichthyosaur from Besano Saurichthys curionii, one of the top predator fish from in the Triassic seas Macrocnemus bassanii, one the few terrestrial reptiles known from Besano Askeptosaurus italicus, a thalattosaurian sea reptile Besanosaurus leptorhynchus (holotype), one of the most impressive fossils ever found in Italy. An ichthyosaur, it measures 5 m (16.5 ft) in length. It was a pregnant female and 4 embryos have fossilized as well. Preparation took more than 15000 hours. This is a cast, the original being too heavy and delicate to be exhibited. First photo: the complete specimen. Second photo: close up of the skull region. Third photo (taken from Wikimedia commons): close up of the rib cage. Notice the circular structures, they are the vertebrae of the embryos Next are three dinosaur specimens. Unfortunately, all three are casts, but the originals of two of them are kept in the museum. Saltriovenator zanellai, the latest of the Italian dinosaurs to be described (2018), it originates from the lower Jurassic of Lombardy. Few bones have been preserved and they were freed from the rock with acid baths. The species is the oldest ceratosaurian known. In front of the museum there is a full scale reconstruction of the animal. (The first photo is taken from Wikimedia Commons) Scipionyx samniticus, one of the greatest paleontological discoveries ever made. This juvenile dinosaur (24 cm or 9.5 in long), recovered in the Early Cretaceous of Pietraroja (southern Italy) preserves much of the soft body parts (including muscles, cuticles, gut). This is a cast, the original is kept near to place of discovery and is seldom shown to the public Rostrum of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, from the Cretaceous of Morocco. It was bought from a fossil dealer. Spinosaurus’ skull elements are exceedingly rare (except for teeth). (Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons) Now, a fish exhibited in the 'introduction to paleontology' exhibition: Paranguilla tigrina, an eel from the Eocene of Bolca, which preserves the original pigmentation pattern Next, a display of concretions from the Triassic of Madagascar. You can see fish specimens (top left and lower right corner and a close up in the second photo), a shrimp (centre), two ammonites (top right corner) and a thylacocephan (lower left corner) These are sponges from the Cretaceous of France, England and Germany And now it is time for the ‘treasures hall’! A large slab preserving 8 complete trilobites from the Cambrian of Morocco An exceptionally preserved stingray from the Eocene of Bolca, northern Italy Pontosaurus kornhuberi, a pythonomorph reptile from the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon Bovid skulls from the Pleistocene of the Po river, northern Italy And, cherry on top, my absolute favourite fossil in the exhibition: a slab preserving countless sea stars (Astropecten irregularis), from the Early Pleistocene of northern Italy I wish I could show you even more photos, but many fossils (for instance those originating from the Jurassic of Osteno) are too small to show any detail in a photograph! In conclusion, the Natural History Museum of Milan, despite an often out dated exhibition layout, should be an unmissable stop for any paleontology enthusiast! Thank you for the attention, Italo40
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Found this very interesting bone fossil while hunting sea glass in Italy. I apologize for not having proper measuring tools, I just moved to Italy! The photos are taken on a standard US sized CD case. any ideas?? Thanks!
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Fossilized Olive Leaves are Reminder of Prehistoric Volcano on Santorini
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ID please. Large echinoid from Europe, possibly Sardinia, Italy
Bill Thompson posted a topic in Fossil ID
I could use some help identifying this extremely large echinoid. I believe it is from Sardinia, Italy. Measures - Base 133 mm, Height 107 mm -
Hello all, Today going around a mountain with my kids my boy found a rock similar to a bone that was covered in friable rock. We broke it togheter and during the process the piece broke in two parts showing the inside. there is still some rock attached to the "spheric part". I post some photo, perhaps somebody will be able to help me telling my boys what it is...
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I found these two rocks in northern Italy. One seems to me like a coral? But I might be wrong. Please let me know what this is if you know! And the last one is a rock with a black spot on it. I have seen this shape on the bottom of a piece I bought with a lot of ammonite imprints and fragments, so I wanted to see if it is something or if it's just a geological pattern. thank you!
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Stabilized with Butvar B-76. Specimen collected from fissure infills.
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Hello everyone ! I received this fossil as a gift from my grandfather, a retired geologist. I've always wondered if it was possible to trace the species of the two fish. The fossil was presumably taken in an area of central Italy, probably in the Apennine area of Lazio or Abruzzo. the two fish measure just under 3 cm. Moreover, do you think it would make sense to continue cleaning the surface completely to perhaps discover new ones? Thanks so much !
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Good evening everyone ! I wanted to show you some shots of these ammonites (?) found around Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, in northeastern Italy. some are really big, calculating that my foot measures 28-29 cm!
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Hello everyone ! my name is Francesco and I'm a PhD student in chemistry from Rome. I am very sorry to have discovered the forum very late, I have always been a paleontology lover and lately I am discovering the world of fossil preparation, but as they say here in Italy "better late than never"! Good evening everyone from Rome, Buonanotte !
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The Gulf of Naples - An area under Volcanic Threat - DW Documentary
Oxytropidoceras posted a topic in Geology
The Gulf of Naples - One of the most dangerous places in the world | DW Documentary De Natale, G., Troise, C. and Somma, R., 2020. Invited perspectives: The volcanoes of Naples: how can the highest volcanic risk in the world be effectively mitigated?. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 20(7), pp.2037-2053. Yours, Paul H.-
- calderas
- campanian volcanic zone
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This year in March we visited Bologna in Italy to go to the Bologna-show. After shopping we went in the fantastic town and visited Ice-Cream-Shops (fantastic...), Coffee-shops and the wonderful Museum for natural History, Giovanni Capellini (Collezione di Geologia "Giovanni Capellini" - Bologna Welcome) We were really impressed..., great museum, love to take more with me than we can store at home... (did not do, even some pics shows something other... ) What can I say to the museum? GO there, its great! I add some pics, enjoy..
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A very exciting and long-awaited news: In mid-2024 the National Geological Museum of Italy (Museo geopaleontologico d'Italia 'Quintino Sella') in Rome will finally open its doors to the visitors. Rome, capital of Italy, is one of the leading centres of research in the field of geology and paleontology, but has lacked in recent years a suitable space to exhibit and promote its collections (more than 150.000 specimens and items). The Geological Museum of Italy, located in the heart of Rome, was closed in 2003 and the entire collection was stored away. In 2021 an agreement between institutions led to birth of a brand new museum, which will be located in the EUR district, south of the city centre, in the 'Museo delle Civiltà' (Civilizations Museum) complex , alongside other museums. Works are currently under way and, in the meantime, a little part of the collections is on display in a temporary exhibition. If you want to learn more: https://www.artribune.com/arti-visive/archeologia-arte-antica/2022/12/museo-civilta-roma-nuovo-allestimento-collezioni-geologiche/ ( in italian, with photos). https://news.artnet.com/art-world/romes-reopened-museum-of-civilizations-is-decolonizing-its-collection-2205490 (in english, a general overview of the Museo delle Civiltà). Soon, everybody will be able to see and enjoy one of the most spectacular collections of paleontology in Italy! Thank you for the attention, Italo40
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Simetite (Costa dell’Ambra, Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma)
Barrelcactusaddict posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities
“Simetite” Costa dell’Ambra Pachino, Syracuse Province, Sicily, Italy Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 79.25%, H: 10.41%, O: 10.34%, S: 0.52-2.46% Specific Gravity: 1.056-1.068 Specimen A (Left): 0.6g / 20x10x8mm Specimen B (Center): 0.2g / 10x7x4mm Specimen C (Right): 0.4g / 13x8x8mm Lighting: 140lm LED Entry six of ten, detailing various rare ambers from European, Asian, and North American localities. This is an amber with a rich history. Amber from the island of Sicily is thought to have been known of since the end of the Iron Age (43 A.D.), but did not initially see much use in terms of trade or lapidary: Baltic amber was imported and preferred over Simetite, due to its larger size in general, and also possibly because it was more readily available; Simetite was later traded with the Phoenicians. Lapidary work with this amber dates back to the early 1800s, and was worked using lathes or was carved by hand: rings, necklaces, cameos, and even boxes were crafted using Simetite. Simetite was named after the River Simeto, which originates from the center of the eastern half of the island, flows south past Mt. Etna, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea along Sicily's east coast: historically, this amber was frequently found along Sicily’s eastern coastline below the mouth of the river, and today can still be found in small quantities throughout Sicily’s eastern and southern shores. Although no extensive research has been performed, the in-situ deposits are believed to be located within the center of the island; amber has been noted to become dislodged from clay-filled soil particularly along streams, where it is carried to the ocean. The rivers primarily responsible for the displacement and relocation of amber are: the Simeto and Dittaino, which converge before reaching the sea near Catania, and the Fiume Salso which travels south from the island’s center to the southern shores near Licata. Precious little research has been done in regards to determining its botanical origin, however recent work by Inez Dorothe van der Werf (2016) has suggested the Fabaceae as the source of Simetite. Low levels of cativic, labdanic, and succinic acids are present within Simetite; it also contains varying levels of sulfur (in turn, altering levels of C, H, and O), believed to be due to sulfate-rich groundwater in the deposits: amber is a permeable substance and has been proven to absorb, retain, and release gases (Hopfenberg et.al., 1988, cited by Poinar 1992): theoretically, this property also extends to resins during their burial. There is a completely black form, that is incredibly rich in sulfur, up to 2.46%: compared to Baltic amber, this variety has nearly six times the concentration of sulfur, and roughly half as much oxygen; the color of this amber is determined mainly by its sulfur content. Sources: "The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana 1837-1868: Descriptive Mineralogy"; p. 1005; Dana 1892 “Life in Amber”; pp. 10, 48; George O. Poinar Jr. 1992 “L’AMBRA SICILIANA Caratterizzazione del più importante materiale gemmologico italiano del Museo di Mineralogia della Sapienza”; pp. 14-17; David Leoni 2011 “The molecular composition of Sicilian amber”; Microchemical Journal 125; van der Werf, et. al. 2016© Kaegen Lau
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Simetite (Costa dell’Ambra, Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma)
Barrelcactusaddict posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities
“Simetite” Costa dell’Ambra Pachino, Syracuse Province, Sicily, Italy Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 79.25%, H: 10.41%, O: 10.34%, S: 0.52-2.46% Specific Gravity: 1.056-1.068 Specimen A (Left): 0.6g / 20x10x8mm Specimen B (Center): 0.2g / 10x7x4mm Specimen C (Right): 0.4g / 13x8x8mm Lighting: Longwave UV Entry six of ten, detailing various rare ambers from European, Asian, and North American localities. This is an amber with a rich history. Amber from the island of Sicily is thought to have been known of since the end of the Iron Age (43 A.D.), but did not initially see much use in terms of trade or lapidary: Baltic amber was imported and preferred over Simetite, due to its larger size in general, and also possibly because it was more readily available; Simetite was later traded with the Phoenicians. Lapidary work with this amber dates back to the early 1800s, and was worked using lathes or was carved by hand: rings, necklaces, cameos, and even boxes were crafted using Simetite. Simetite was named after the River Simeto, which originates from the center of the eastern half of the island, flows south past Mt. Etna, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea along Sicily's east coast: historically, this amber was frequently found along Sicily’s eastern coastline below the mouth of the river, and today can still be found in small quantities throughout Sicily’s eastern and southern shores. Although no extensive research has been performed, the in-situ deposits are believed to be located within the center of the island; amber has been noted to become dislodged from clay-filled soil particularly along streams, where it is carried to the ocean. The rivers primarily responsible for the displacement and relocation of amber are: the Simeto and Dittaino, which converge before reaching the sea near Catania, and the Fiume Salso which travels south from the island’s center to the southern shores near Licata. Precious little research has been done in regards to determining its botanical origin, however recent work by Inez Dorothe van der Werf (2016) has suggested the Fabaceae as the source of Simetite. Low levels of cativic, labdanic, and succinic acids are present within Simetite; it also contains varying levels of sulfur (in turn, altering levels of C, H, and O), believed to be due to sulfate-rich groundwater in the deposits: amber is a permeable substance and has been proven to absorb, retain, and release gases (Hopfenberg et.al., 1988, cited by Poinar 1992): theoretically, this property also extends to resins during their burial. There is a completely black form, that is incredibly rich in sulfur, up to 2.46%: compared to Baltic amber, this variety has nearly six times the concentration of sulfur, and roughly half as much oxygen; the color of this amber is determined mainly by its sulfur content. Sources: "The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana 1837-1868: Descriptive Mineralogy"; p. 1005; Dana 1892 “Life in Amber”; pp. 10, 48; George O. Poinar Jr. 1992 “L’AMBRA SICILIANA Caratterizzazione del più importante materiale gemmologico italiano del Museo di Mineralogia della Sapienza”; pp. 14-17; David Leoni 2011 “The molecular composition of Sicilian amber”; Microchemical Journal 125; van der Werf, et. al. 2016© Kaegen Lau
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- amber
- dittaino river
- (and 10 more)
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Simetite (Costa dell’Ambra, Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma)
Barrelcactusaddict posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities
“Simetite” Costa dell’Ambra Pachino, Syracuse Province, Sicily, Italy Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 79.25%, H: 10.41%, O: 10.34%, S: 0.52-2.46% Specific Gravity: 1.056-1.068 Specimen A: 0.6g / 20x10x8mm Lighting: 140lm LED Entry six of ten, detailing various rare ambers from European, Asian, and North American localities. This is an amber with a rich history. Amber from the island of Sicily is thought to have been known of since the end of the Iron Age (43 A.D.), but did not initially see much use in terms of trade or lapidary: Baltic amber was imported and preferred over Simetite, due to its larger size in general, and also possibly because it was more readily available; Simetite was later traded with the Phoenicians. Lapidary work with this amber dates back to the early 1800s, and was worked using lathes or was carved by hand: rings, necklaces, cameos, and even boxes were crafted using Simetite. Simetite was named after the River Simeto, which originates from the center of the eastern half of the island, flows south past Mt. Etna, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea along Sicily's east coast: historically, this amber was frequently found along Sicily’s eastern coastline below the mouth of the river, and today can still be found in small quantities throughout Sicily’s eastern and southern shores. Although no extensive research has been performed, the in-situ deposits are believed to be located within the center of the island; amber has been noted to become dislodged from clay-filled soil particularly along streams, where it is carried to the ocean. The rivers primarily responsible for the displacement and relocation of amber are: the Simeto and Dittaino, which converge before reaching the sea near Catania, and the Fiume Salso which travels south from the island’s center to the southern shores near Licata. Precious little research has been done in regards to determining its botanical origin, however recent work by Inez Dorothe van der Werf (2016) has suggested the Fabaceae as the source of Simetite. Low levels of cativic, labdanic, and succinic acids are present within Simetite; it also contains varying levels of sulfur (in turn, altering levels of C, H, and O), believed to be due to sulfate-rich groundwater in the deposits: amber is a permeable substance and has been proven to absorb, retain, and release gases (Hopfenberg et.al., 1988, cited by Poinar 1992): theoretically, this property also extends to resins during their burial. There is a completely black form, that is incredibly rich in sulfur, up to 2.46%: compared to Baltic amber, this variety has nearly six times the concentration of sulfur, and roughly half as much oxygen; the color of this amber is determined mainly by its sulfur content. Sources: "The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana 1837-1868: Descriptive Mineralogy"; p. 1005; Dana 1892 “Life in Amber”; pp. 10, 48; George O. Poinar Jr. 1992 “L’AMBRA SICILIANA Caratterizzazione del più importante materiale gemmologico italiano del Museo di Mineralogia della Sapienza”; pp. 14-17; David Leoni 2011 “The molecular composition of Sicilian amber”; Microchemical Journal 125; van der Werf, et. al. 2016© Kaegen Lau
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- amber
- dittaino river
- (and 10 more)
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Simetite (Costa dell’Ambra, Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma)
Barrelcactusaddict posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Fossil Amber and Copal: Worldwide Localities
“Simetite” Costa dell’Ambra Pachino, Syracuse Province, Sicily, Italy Lower to Middle Miocene (~20-12 Ma) Chemical Composition: C: 79.25%, H: 10.41%, O: 10.34%, S: 0.52-2.46% Specific Gravity: 1.056-1.068 Specimen C: 0.4g / 13x8x8mm Lighting: 140lm LED Entry six of ten, detailing various rare ambers from European, Asian, and North American localities. This is an amber with a rich history. Amber from the island of Sicily is thought to have been known of since the end of the Iron Age (43 A.D.), but did not initially see much use in terms of trade or lapidary: Baltic amber was imported and preferred over Simetite, due to its larger size in general, and also possibly because it was more readily available; Simetite was later traded with the Phoenicians. Lapidary work with this amber dates back to the early 1800s, and was worked using lathes or was carved by hand: rings, necklaces, cameos, and even boxes were crafted using Simetite. Simetite was named after the River Simeto, which originates from the center of the eastern half of the island, flows south past Mt. Etna, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea along Sicily's east coast: historically, this amber was frequently found along Sicily’s eastern coastline below the mouth of the river, and today can still be found in small quantities throughout Sicily’s eastern and southern shores. Although no extensive research has been performed, the in-situ deposits are believed to be located within the center of the island; amber has been noted to become dislodged from clay-filled soil particularly along streams, where it is carried to the ocean. The rivers primarily responsible for the displacement and relocation of amber are: the Simeto and Dittaino, which converge before reaching the sea near Catania, and the Fiume Salso which travels south from the island’s center to the southern shores near Licata. Precious little research has been done in regards to determining its botanical origin, however recent work by Inez Dorothe van der Werf (2016) has suggested the Fabaceae as the source of Simetite. Low levels of cativic, labdanic, and succinic acids are present within Simetite; it also contains varying levels of sulfur (in turn, altering levels of C, H, and O), believed to be due to sulfate-rich groundwater in the deposits: amber is a permeable substance and has been proven to absorb, retain, and release gases (Hopfenberg et.al., 1988, cited by Poinar 1992): theoretically, this property also extends to resins during their burial. There is a completely black form, that is incredibly rich in sulfur, up to 2.46%: compared to Baltic amber, this variety has nearly six times the concentration of sulfur, and roughly half as much oxygen; the color of this amber is determined mainly by its sulfur content. Sources: "The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana 1837-1868: Descriptive Mineralogy"; p. 1005; Dana 1892 “Life in Amber”; pp. 10, 48; George O. Poinar Jr. 1992 “L’AMBRA SICILIANA Caratterizzazione del più importante materiale gemmologico italiano del Museo di Mineralogia della Sapienza”; pp. 14-17; David Leoni 2011 “The molecular composition of Sicilian amber”; Microchemical Journal 125; van der Werf, et. al. 2016© Kaegen Lau
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- amber
- dittaino river
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An interesting article on the morphometrics of C. megalodon teeth from Italy Fossil teeth of Carcharocles megalodon: The Collection of the University Museum of Chieti (Italy). Part I: Morphometric Analysis https://www.academia.edu/37963297/Fossil_teeth_of_Carcharocles_megalodon_The_Collection_of_the_University_Museum_of_Chieti_Italy_Part_I_Morphometric_Analysis?email_work_card=title
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Hi, my name is Simone and I'm a fossil collector form eight years. I mainly collect fossil fish and shark teeth from all over the world and my collection is in continuous expansion (with many space problems). I'm happy to have found this forum and I hope to meet many more fossil lovers here!
- 10 replies