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Showing results for tags 'middle jurassic'.
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They keep finding great things on Skye! http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-43620237
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- dinosaur footprints
- dinosaur tracks
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From the album: MY FOSSIL Collection - Dpaul7
Ichthyosaur Vertebra SITE LOCATION: Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, United Kingdom TIME PERIOD: Middle Jurassic (160 Million Years) Ichthyosaurs (Greek for "fish lizard" ) are large marine reptiles. Ichthyosaurs belong to the order known as Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia ('fish flippers' – a designation introduced by Sir Richard Owen in 1840, although the term is now used more for the parent clade of the Ichthyosauria). Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared around 250 million years ago (Mya) and at least one species survived until about 90 million years ago, into the Late Cretaceous. During the early Triassic period, ichthyosaurs evolved from a group of unidentified land reptiles that returned to the sea, in a development parallel to that of the ancestors of modern-day dolphins and whales, which they gradually came to resemble in a case of convergent evolution. They were particularly abundant in the later Triassic and early Jurassic periods, until they were replaced as the top aquatic predators by another marine reptilian group, the Plesiosauria, in the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In the Late Cretaceous, ichthyosaurs became extinct for unknown reasons. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: †Ichthyosauria -
From the album: MY FOSSIL Collection - Dpaul7
Ichthyosaur Vertebra SITE LOCATION: Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, United Kingdom TIME PERIOD: Middle Jurassic (160 Million Years) Ichthyosaurs (Greek for "fish lizard" ) are large marine reptiles. Ichthyosaurs belong to the order known as Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia ('fish flippers' – a designation introduced by Sir Richard Owen in 1840, although the term is now used more for the parent clade of the Ichthyosauria). Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared around 250 million years ago (Mya) and at least one species survived until about 90 million years ago, into the Late Cretaceous. During the early Triassic period, ichthyosaurs evolved from a group of unidentified land reptiles that returned to the sea, in a development parallel to that of the ancestors of modern-day dolphins and whales, which they gradually came to resemble in a case of convergent evolution. They were particularly abundant in the later Triassic and early Jurassic periods, until they were replaced as the top aquatic predators by another marine reptilian group, the Plesiosauria, in the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In the Late Cretaceous, ichthyosaurs became extinct for unknown reasons. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: †Ichthyosauria -
From the album: MY FOSSIL Collection - Dpaul7
Ichthyosaur Vertebra SITE LOCATION: Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, United Kingdom TIME PERIOD: Middle Jurassic (160 Million Years) Ichthyosaurs (Greek for "fish lizard" ) are large marine reptiles. Ichthyosaurs belong to the order known as Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia ('fish flippers' – a designation introduced by Sir Richard Owen in 1840, although the term is now used more for the parent clade of the Ichthyosauria). Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared around 250 million years ago (Mya) and at least one species survived until about 90 million years ago, into the Late Cretaceous. During the early Triassic period, ichthyosaurs evolved from a group of unidentified land reptiles that returned to the sea, in a development parallel to that of the ancestors of modern-day dolphins and whales, which they gradually came to resemble in a case of convergent evolution. They were particularly abundant in the later Triassic and early Jurassic periods, until they were replaced as the top aquatic predators by another marine reptilian group, the Plesiosauria, in the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In the Late Cretaceous, ichthyosaurs became extinct for unknown reasons. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: †Ichthyosauria -
From the album: MY FOSSIL Collection - Dpaul7
Sea Urchin Fossil - PHYMOSOMA Morocco Middle Jurassic (about 170 Million Years Ago) Phymosoma is an extinct genus of echinoids that lived from the Cretaceous to the Eocene. Sea Urchins are a group of marine invertebrates that today can be found in almost every major marine habitat from the poles to the equator and from the intertidal zone to depths of more than 5,000 metres. There are around 800 extant species and the group has a long and detailed fossil record stretching back about 450 million years ago to the Late Ordovician Period. Commonly called "Sea Biscuits" of Sea Urchins Echinoid is Latin for "pickle". When alive these animals were covered with movable spines which gave protection and provided locomotion. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Order: Phymosomatoida Family: Phymosomatidae Genus: Phymosoma -
From the album: MY FOSSIL Collection - Dpaul7
Sea Urchin Fossil - PHYMOSOMA Morocco Middle Jurassic (about 170 Million Years Ago) Phymosoma is an extinct genus of echinoids that lived from the Cretaceous to the Eocene. Sea Urchins are a group of marine invertebrates that today can be found in almost every major marine habitat from the poles to the equator and from the intertidal zone to depths of more than 5,000 metres. There are around 800 extant species and the group has a long and detailed fossil record stretching back about 450 million years ago to the Late Ordovician Period. Commonly called "Sea Biscuits" of Sea Urchins Echinoid is Latin for "pickle". When alive these animals were covered with movable spines which gave protection and provided locomotion. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Echinodermata Class: Echinoidea Order: Phymosomatoida Family: Phymosomatidae Genus: Phymosoma -
Yesterday I was invited by a few collector friends to join them at a site in the Wutach valley which I had not yet had the opportunity to visit. It was a bit tricky getting there, so I'm glad that they guided me on the walk in. I had to leave earlier than them and ended up taking a wrong turn on the way out since I was deep in conversation with them on the way in and didn't pay proper attention to the lefts and rights, but that's another story. Suffice to say I spent an hour longer in the woods than planned, but I was saved by a nice person in the town I ended up in who drove me back to my car. Anyway, we had a successful day of collecting and I just wanted to show an ammonite that I just finished prepping. It's a Bullatimorphites bullatus partial phragmocone with a diameter of 4.5cm. The stratigraphy is the same as at my other Callovian site, so it was also interesting to compare exposures. I'll post some more here as I get them finished and hope to get back there for some more digging in a couple of weeks time.
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As many of you have probably noticed, I've been concentrating my fossil hunting efforts mostly on the Kimmeridgian in the Danube Valley or on the Callovian in the Wutach. Yesterday I felt like having a change of scenerey, so I decided to visit the classic site at Scheffheu in the Wutach Valley. I didn't realize it at the tme, but I hadn't been back there for a day of serious collecting for 5 years. My, how time flies! At any rate, it was amazing to see how the site had changed over these few years. The beaten path up the hill, which leads first through woods and which used to continue on up to the top through stone strewn open spaces was now practically overshadowed with tall shrubs and trees and only opened up at the very top. The exposures were basically the same ones, but some were now covered with debris and others were better exposed due to land slips. Also, some of them which had been composed of steely hard rock which was practically impossible to break into were now sufficiently weathered to be able to have a go at them. This time I thought to take along my camera, so I can give you a few impressions. First, a shot of the exposure in the middle Jurassic Aalenian which I decided after a bit of reconnaissance could be worth a closer investigation. I then decided to create a bench at this spot, which was out of the sun. I could tell by the makeup of the stone that I was in the staufensis Bank and it didn't take all that long before I had found a few ammonites. Yes, it was a little muddy in spots. In situ pics with a few ammos before and after excavation. Even though the matrix was weathered making for cracks, it is still extremely hard, so it's not always possible to extract the fossils in one piece. You just have to make sure to collect up all the bits and then there's some puzzle work to do at home. After a couple of hours at this level, I decided to try get down lower to the next fossiliferous layer, the sinon Banks, which provides a slightly different fauna. I had to remove a few larger blocks to this purpose. It was somewhat tedious, but it worked. Continued....
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From the album: Invertebrates
My colleague and I wanted to visit a customer near Nincheng in Nei Mongol, China when I saw a drywall made out of grey flag stones. Looked very promising. I could pursuade my colleague (who was driving the car) to take a rest.... Unfortunately I could not tear down the wall - the owner of the drywall didn't like my idea and opposed. I guess the shale came from Daohugou. Colorifuzia agenora Wei, Liang & Ren, 2013 Middle to Late Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation Daohugou Nei Mongol China -
You can see how large it used to be by the remnant of the body chamber on the outer flank. This is the index fossil for the two sinon bank horizons in the murchsonae zone. Old German Chronostratigrahy: Dogger (Braunjura) beta
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From the album: Middle Jurassic Ammonites from Southern Germany
6.5cm. Found on a plowed field near Blumberg. More than likely Macrocephalen-Oolith, lower Callovian. -
Calcite mold. Index fossil for the athleta zone. Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) zeta
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Limestone/calcite mold of part of the phragmocone with shell remnants. Index fossil of the coronatum zone.
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The European index fossil for both the jason zone and subzone. The white is original shell substance. One can also see in the second photo how the phragmocone has been converted to calcite.
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This sample was also found on a plowed field, therefore the weather has gotten to it somewhat. What is seen is only a part of the phragmocone. These creatures certainly have earned their name. This is the index species for zone and subzone. Lithology: Macrocephalen-Oolith Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) zeta Literature: Dietl, G. (2010): Die Wutach-Formation (clw) des südwestdeutschen Juras - Beschreibung und Gliederung. Jh. Ges. Naturkde. Württemberg. 166. S.5-21
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This ammonite gives its species name to the so-called "Comptum bank", which is widespread in Europe, as well as the comptum subzone. The ribs are more pronounced and the whorls are wider than by L.opalinum. Literature: Rulleau, L. (1979): Geologie et Paleontologie des Carrières Lafarge à Belmont (Rhone), Section Geol. d. Comité d'Entreprise de l'usine du Val d'Azergues Rulleau, L. (1997): Les Ammonites de l'Aalénien de la region lyonnaise, Minéreaux et Fossiles #251, Mai 1997
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Another ammonite species which gives its name both to the lithographical unit and the biostratigraphical zone. This zone is practically nonexistent in southern Germany, but interestingly enough, can be found both in Great Britain and France. For this reason I was pleased to recieve this specimen on a trade. Lithography: Scissum Beds Literature: Whicher, Sole & Chandler (2014): The Gastropod and Ammonite Fauna of two anomalous Facies in the Inferior Oolite of Burton Cliff, South Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society. Vol. 135
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- burton bradstock
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Index fossil of the bradfordensis zone. Phragmocone showing typical rib structure. The last photo shows another sample which illustrates how large these ammonites could get. The diameter is 20cm. and this is still just the phragmocone. Lithology: Geisingen-Oolith The Geisingen-Oolith is a horizon which was built and reworked over a long stretch of time at the coastal fringe of an arm of the Tethys ocean. Fauna from both the concavum and the bradfordensis zones are to be found in it. Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) beta Literature: Dietze et al (2014): Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) ammonites and stratigraphy of the Geisingen clay pit (SW Germany). Palaeodiversity 7: 61-127
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This is the index fossil of the concavum zone. Most of the shell is preserved, as is a small portion of the body chamber. These ammonites could reach a good size, as shown by the sample in the last 2 photos, which has a circumference of 21cm. Lithography: Geisingen-Oolith The Geisingen-Oolith is a horizon which was built and reworked over a long stretch of time at the coastal fringe of an arm of the Tethys ocean. Fauna from both the concavum and the bradfordensis zones are to be found in it. Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) beta Literature: Dietze et al (2014): Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) ammonites and stratigraphy of the Geisingen clay pit (SW Germany). Palaeodiversity 7: 61-127
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This is the index fossil of the murchisonae zone. This sample was disturbed either during burial or later tectonically at the point where the phragmocone meets the body chamber. The shell is completely preserved on one side showing clearly the typical ribbing. It is not quite complete, still missing about a half turn around the axes. Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) beta Literature: Rieber,H. (1963): Ammoniten und Stratigraphie des Braunjura beta der Schwaebischen Alb, Palaeontographica Bd.122,Abt.A, Pp.1-89
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Lithography: "Humphresie-Bank/Schichten" Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger(Braun Jura) delta This ammonite is the index fossil for its zone. It has an anomaly which can clearly be seen on the outer whorls at 9 o'clock. The external side is then exposed more than usual until it returns to normal at 3 o'clock. The small remnant of shell from the outer whorl of the body chamber from thereon shows how large the ammonite actually was. Literature: Ottiger,R. (2014): Fossiliensuche im Tafeljura. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. Burkhalter,R.M. (1996): Die Passwang Alloformation im zentralen und noerdlichen Schweizer Jura. Eclogae geol. Helv. 89/3: 875-934.
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This species has long been a subject of contention as to its lineage, but Dietze (2014), following the chronospecies/genus concept, has managed to prove to the satisfaction of most that it belongs to the subfamily of the Leioceratinae. Rieber (1963) had placed it in the subfamily Staufeniinae and had named it Staufenia opalinoides, a name which most collectors and paleontologists adopted, since his work was the most comprehensive one on the ammonite fauna of the area for many years. This almost complete specimen has most of its shell intact. The band of variation of ribbing and other sculptural factors is relatively broad, but this here is a typical sample. Biostratigraphy: Murchisonae Zone, Sinon Bank 1, haugi Subzone Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger (Braunjura) beta Literature: Rieber,H. (1963): Ammoniten und Stratigraphie des Braunjura beta der Schwaebischen Alb, Palaeontographica Bd.122,Abt.A, Pp.1-89 Dietze et al (2014): Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) ammonites and stratigraphy of the Geisingen clay pit (SW Germany), Palaeodiversity 7: 61–127 Horn,E. (1909): Die Harpoceraten der Murchisonae-Schichten des Donau-Rhein-Zuges, Mitteilungen der Großh. Badischen Geologischen Landesanstalt, VI. Bd.1.Heft
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Old German Chronostratigraphy: Dogger(Braun Jura) delta This specimen represents the stratigraphically oldest record of the genus Emileia in Germany and one of the oldest records worldwide (Dietze el al. 2008). Donated to the Stuttgart Museum for Natural History (SMNS #67602) Literature: Dietze et al, (2010): Rare Middle Jurassic ammonites of the families Erycitidae, Otoitidae and Stephanoceratidae from southern Germany. Zitteliana A50, 71-88. Ohmert, W. (1988): The Ovalis Zone (Lower Bajocian) in the type area, Southwestern Germany. – In: R. B. rocha & a. f. SoareS (Eds), 2nd International Symposium on Jurassic Stratigraphy, Lisbon, 255–268.
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A new paper regarding a North American metriorhynchid: Eric W. Wilberg (2015). "A new metriorhynchoid (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) from the Middle Jurassic of Oregon and the evolutionary timing of marine adaptations in thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Online edition. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.902846. For trivial sake, Zoneait is named after Zone Ait Ghahnay, a marine monster of Kiowa folklore. Possibly the Kiowa came upon fossils of metriorhynchoids and other marine reptiles (e.g. ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs) when they came up with mythical beasts like Zone Ait Ghahnay. Oregon's most famous claim to prehistory may lay in the fossils of prehistoric mysticetes, but the discovery of Zoneait and Bennettazhia shows that Oregon was covered by oceans and seas during most of the Mesozoic. I wouldn't be surprised if we found a skeleton of Zoneait in California because the Pacific Coast states were underwater during the Mesozoic.
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Here's an interesting article about a giant sauropod found in Xinjiang, China: http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/forschak/2267836/ (in German) Xinjiangtitan is truly a giant for its time, with a length of about 100 feet long, far bigger than Bellusaurus and Klamelisaurus (also from the Wucaiwan Formation [=lower Shishugou Formation] of Xinjiang]). Therefore, it's clear that gigantism in sauropods existed 20 million years before Supersaurus and Diplodocus hallorum lumbered through the floodplains of western North America as the largest-ever sauropods of Late Jurassic North America. I'd be curious to see if Xinjiangtitan is as big as the largest Alamosaurus specimen described by Fowler and Sullivan (2011).
