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From the album: Sharks
An odd shark from the Cretaceous of North Texas - these sharks had crushing teeth suited for hard-bodied prey.- 3 comments
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I haven't seen much discussion on the geology of the well-known Post Oak Creek here in North Texas. I'd usually seen it referred to the Eagle Ford Group/Formation, but without much substantiation. I really hadn't given it much care, but as is a healthy practice in science, one should often reevaluate one's beliefs especially in light of new information. I believe there is some evidence to support the Eagle Ford assignment, granted I'm not a professional nor very knowledgable about geology and I welcome discussion and contrarian input. The Eagle Ford (Kef) is exposed near Sherman, so it's a possibility. The Austin Group/Austin Chalk is also here (Kau): ^https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_19387.htm Here is the evidence that I believe favors that most of the Cretaceous fossils from POC are from the Eagle Ford: 1. Lithology USGS describes the lithology of the Eagle Ford formation: "In Sherman Sheet (1967) (NE Texas) shale, selenitic, bituminous, [calcareous] concretions and septaria, thin platy beds of [sandstone] and sandy [limestone]. in middle and upper part, [medium] to [dark] gray; marine megafossils; thickness 300-400 ft." (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=TXKef%3B0) (http://northtexasfossils.com/pdfs/shermansheet.pdf) I've found several matrix pieces with shark teeth in it that match the preservation of the vast majority of sharks in POC, which are sandstones. There are also septarian nodules like this one: 2. Presence of Cameleolopha bellaplicata Anyone who has been to POC has seen these oysters everywhere. They are often embedded in the same sandstone. Note that this illustrated one from Hook & Cobban (2011) was collected near Sherman (probably POC since they refer to it). Here is a specimen I collected: Hook & Cobban (2011) say that "Cameleolopha bellaplicata (Shumard 1860) is an easily recognized fossil oyster that occurs abundantly in sandy strata in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas, where it is restricted to the middle Turonian ammonite zones of Prionocyclus hyatti and P. macombi." These together are consistent with the description and age of the Eagle Ford formation. One possible strata for POC is also the lowest part of the Austin Group, the Atco. However, I've yet to find a description of the lithology which matches better than that above for EF. In addition, there is disparity in the fauna between the Atco and POC. There are many genera found in the Atco which I've yet to find after a few years of hunting Post Oak (e.g. Heterodontus, Protolamna, Dallasiella, Pariasurus, Pseudocorax, Microcorax, etc.; see Hamm & Cicimurri (2011)). This may be because I haven't looked long enough or there could be some other bias. If you have any of the sharks mentioned above from POC, I'd love to see them. That's all I've got from a one-sitting internet exploration last night, so please do double check my rambling.
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
The "big guy" to find at POC. Though, this one is smaller, the preservation is as good as it gets for this location. In fact, it makes me believe that POC could draw from layers adjacent to the Eagle Ford Group. I've found matrix pieces that are consistent with the geology of EFG, but need to find matrix pieces with this kind of preservation to confirm Atco or something else. I'm also not sure that this is C. crassidens anymore since this smaller, narrower form differs so much from the holotype. I currently believe it's an undescribed species since I haven't found something that matches. Please let me know if you find a paper that fits this tooth (and the others at POC).-
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
Reconstructed tooth set from a "Crow" shark - Squalicorax (could be S. falcatus) - illustrating the variety of tooth positions. Anterior teeth have erect, triangular cusps. Lateral teeth and posteriors are more common and have an increasingly posteriorly slanted crown, resembling the teeth of modern tiger sharks.-
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From the album: Texas Cretaceous Fossils: Crustaceans
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Some Post Oak Teeth; Pleistocene mammal, Hybodont, and Mosasaur(?)
Thomas.Dodson posted a topic in Fossil ID
I made a brief stop at Post Oak Creek traveling around Texas a couple weeks ago. I didn't have much luck searching for large fossils this time but looking small turned up some decent material, a few of which I wanted to request some identification help for. First is this mammal tooth. I don't know how many people look into this small Pleistocene material. @Harry Pristis @Shellseeker, any ideas? Next is this small mosasaur like tooth. It reminds me of some of the teeth that appear in a recent ID thread. @pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon, any ideas on this one? Trying to photograph the slight posterior carinae in this picture below. Finally I've got this little tooth that looks like a Hybodontoid.- 4 replies
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Hello everyone! While I was cleaning out my phone I forgot I had these finds that I would like second opinions on identifying from Post Oak Creek near Sherman, Texas. I found these right before I had to fly out to Iceland so the setup is very messy and was done quickly. I love hunting here, and have a general understanding on most of my finds there which are mostly various shark teeth and lopha oysters. Usually confident in identifying however I never got to go to school for paleontology so I’m still an amateur! Im always so eager to love to learn more about the ancient Cretaceous sea life even if it can’t be my profession. Here is the layout! Sorry again it’s so messy! I spilled water. (Ballpoint pen and cavendish banan for reference) ……………….. I found a LOT of Ptychodus whipplei that day! I was super happy as this is my *favorite* shark. I came mostly looking for these babies so my attention was focused on searching the gravel for these shapes specifically. Anything else I found was a happy mistake. Never found so many in one trip! Just showing these off really quick! Hopefully they make someone here smile! What is the one I have labeled 13?! Never seen it before! I also found some goblin sharks, squalicorax, and psuedocorax. ………………. I would like help IDing these mammal looking parts! I understand that there’s probably a bunch of pig and horse farm animals locally that have died… but I wanted to ask about these! I think the long orange one is from a horse(?) that was split in half and not sure what the other bones are from. They feel a little in the lighter side but feel weighty and “stone” enough to be possibly fossilized. I have no idea how to ID what a mammal bone is except teeth! I also think I found the TINIEST arrowhead ever! At first I thought the triangle shape was just a coincidence of a chert fracture but look-there’s chisel marks! Maybe a stone tool that the very tip broken off. Either way I’m glad I kept it! M1 pig bone? M2 ??? Mammal tooth M3 horse tooth? M4 arrowhead tip!? *hopefully* these are enough pictures to help ID these four! So neat to find mammal remains as Ive only found both devonian & cretaceous marine fossils in my life. ……………….. Mystery Swirl! I find this specimen’s shape intriguing. It looks like an internal mold of a snail but looks swirly and not perfectly tube shaped as a snail would stike me as- it looks like a little like a poop! Wondering if this is snail mold or possible coprolite! It doesn’t look straight and as “segmenty” in clumped wads as my shark coprolite from NSR I had ID’d. Im leaning towards snail. I just love that it looks like do-do. ……………….. I would also love having help ID these Cretaceous finds! Im a familiar amateur with the local Cretaceous stuff but not an expert. I would love to be educated to ID specific species of sharks to help local people I meet here ID their finds! ……………….. I found 2 interesting fishy looking teeth! Thanks to this forum I found a jaw of Enchodus back at NSR a while ago, this little one reminded me of that! I found this longer looking tooth that I have no idea if its a marine reptile or fish! It’s long and skinny with long striations all around it and round all around. The tip is broken. **Would LOVE to know if theres a trick to instantly knowing a fish tooth from a marine reptile tooth. I think I read on another thread a while back that one of them lacks a layer of something in the enamel but I’m probably wrong. F tooth 1- teenie Enchodus? F tooth 2- saw shark ? ……………….. Need help with P 13. It reminds me a little of a ptychodus tooth but I couldn’t find anything in the pinned ptychodus ID thread that looked like it. Maybe a worn P. Mortoni , but maybe possible it could be something else entirely! Check the first 2 photos I posted for size ref and more photos of it. I regret not taking a pic of the back. I know most of my ptychodus are P. whipplei (the common ptychodus to find at Post Oak!) but the others after P11 are new finds to me and not in any of my favorite references. ……………….. Lastly- would like to know if these are cretolamna or leptostyrax and how to easily ID the two! I use the fossils of texas book as a reference and some of them look so similar its hard to tell them apart for me. I usually find mostly the common but awesome goblin shark teeth (scapanorhynchus) but every once and a while I find some that look like these. Im leaning towards a bunch of them being cretolamna. *might be a few broken or worn goblin shark mixed in here Thanks for taking the time to read all of this! I hope the pictures were enjoyable! Id absolutely love to learn more about Cretaceous marine life when I get back to Texas from Iceland. (I went to the Heard museum and Perot right before I left!) ** Additional photo of arrowhead looking piece that uploaded out of order: ***Bonus pictures from that day! I can assure you this area is not totally picked over I found these near the Bridge as shown in the photo.
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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I've only been able to make it out to Post Oak Creek in Sherman, Texas once before, but I was fortunate enough to be able to spend an entire day shoveling and sifting and managed to come away with a decent haul of mostly complete shark teeth. Most of what I found was pretty easily identifiable, but I've held on to the three teeth that I found that day that continue to make an ID difficult despite how (mostly) complete they are. The first tooth I'm also certain is a Protolamna. It has the characteristic longitudinal ridges on both sides, the dental band on the front, and the cusplets are connected to the main blade. The other two teeth I have no idea where to begin. The one in the middle may simply be too worn to attempt a concrete ID, as the enamel closest to the root (which would be one of the most diagnostic features) has been eroded away. I initially thought the third tooth might be Cretoxyrhina, but I can't determine whether the root looks the way it does as a result of erosion or if it's still retained most of its original shape. If the latter, then it doesn't resemble any Cretaceous shark tooth I've found before. As I know the creek has been much more heavily hunted by other Texas members of the forum than myself, I've got my fingers crossed somebody should be able to help me out. Any advice is appreciated!
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Spent the day out on Post Oak Creek in Sherman Texas… I met some new friends and found a fairly good haul of shark teeth. In addition, I think I may have stumbled across a small piece of enamel… Maybe mastodon??? I’d love to get the groups thoughts on what that is (or tell me if I’m way off base). cheers!
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
To find denticles, you need to go to the finest grain size. This beautiful one could be shark, but I'm not certain.-
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
Rhinobatos teeth are probably the smallest teeth you can hope to find here - they are about as small as grains of sand.-
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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Tiniest Shark Tooth You've Ever Seen? POC Microfossil
Mikrogeophagus posted a topic in Micro-paleontology
Just a quick post. Was picking through some washed gravel I got from Post Oak Creek back in the winter when I stumbled upon this guy. I'm surprised my screens were fine enough to catch him. Taking clear pics was a bit difficult so apologies for blurriness. I'm curious about what sort of shark would have a tooth of this size. Was it just a tiny pup or were there just really small species? The hashmarks are millimeters. I might make a post about my POC micro finds once I finish going through it and identifying stuff. It's a long process, but there are plenty of fun finds to be had. Thanks for reading!- 8 replies
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Just wondering if anyone can tell me what these might be?! My boys were ecstatic to find them. Thanks!! found in Post Oak Creek, TX
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
Cretolamna teeth from POC. The largest one seems to be the C. dwardius as described in Welton and Farish's guide, the others are C. appendiculata.- 1 comment
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Some Miscellaneous North Texas (and Louisiana) Fossil Trips
Thomas.Dodson posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
This past weekend I had the time to take some friends on their first fossil hunting trip and went to North Texas. I took them to Post Oak Creek, Lost Creek Reservoir, the North Sulphur River, and the Cane River site in Louisiana I posted about last time. I wasn't expecting too much since there hasn't been much rain and it'd be picked over but I was okay with that since even common material would be new to them. I also ended up having some decent luck myself so I wanted to post some of the finds. At the Eocene Cane River Formation site I collected these bivalves which I hadn't collected from the site prior. Limopsis aviculoides I believe. These teeth appear to be Scomberomorus bleekeri, a common Eocene find. A nice Sphyraena sp. tooth. Physogaleus secundus were also new from the site for me. Some ray tooth? Some new lateral Striatolamia macrota alongside some old anterior ones from a previous trip. Multiple species represented in new small otoliths. There is a paper describing the otoliths from this site but I haven't been able to get a copy yet so I've only identified the larger ones from last time. Among the many Belosaepia veatchi was this unusual one. The "blade" is B. ungula like but the cavity is rather deep for that. New gastropod taxa that I haven't identified yet. From Post Oak Creek I wound up with some nice Pleistocene finds. Canis sp., probably a coyote. A muskrat tooth. Lots of Ptychodus whipplei this trip. Some of the nicest ones. The biggest Squalicorax teeth. Some sadly incomplete Cretodus but still nice. And my favorite tooth from the trip, a great colored little Cretodus. Love the contrasting tip. From the North Sulphur I got a nice little mosasaur terminal caudal vertebra. It's good enough for me from and more than I expected. I also got a nice living chamber from a Trachyscaphites.- 6 replies
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I made another trip to Post Oak Creek yesterday. I visited a spot on the creek where I'd already been twice last year, in the first months of my fossil hunting. The conditions the second trip were much like yesterday, months of low water and very picked over. I didn't find much that second trip. But I suspected that I have become much better at spotting tiny teeth on a gravel bar, and went back yesterday anyway. Judging from what I found, I must have been right. There were lots of broken teeth again, and nothing spectacular or unusual enough to justify a post, but I do enjoy documenting my trips, and have a question about one of the bones, so here I am. First, some in situ photos. The tooth in photo 6 is pretty hard to see. Hint: it's a Ptychodus tooth.
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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I've been sorting micro-matrix I collected during my recent trip to Post Oak Creek (Eagle Ford, Turonian stage). Overall I've had great success identifying everything (even what I believe to be a Coniasaurus tooth) but I have run into some difficulties with some small shark teeth. I've tried taking some pictures through my scope although I don't have a mounted camera for it yet. #1. This one is kinda smoothed over so it may be hopeless but the weird roots throw me a bit so I wanted to post it. 3 mm in length. The nutrient groove on this one throws me as it resembles species that wouldn't have it. Also 3 mm in length. Not 100% sure if those are enamel folds or wear. Then these little teeth. I suspect Scyliorhinids based on the lingual shelves and lack of other fits but the sources I've read also suggest that nutrient grooves are generally absent on Scyliorhinids. The one on the left is 2 mm. I suspect these are the same as the first one but are more worn. The one on the right is 1.5 mm. Here's a bad picture trying to show the huge lingual shelf. It's much more massive than it appears in the pictures. This one is standing up on it. These are the best I can do at the moment but I have a mounted scope camera at my workplace so I can try and get better pictures there at some point.
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From the album: Post Oak Creek
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