Echies of Texas - (and MORE from West Texas! )(Part 8?)

[JamieLynn]

Took a little trip out to West Texas last weekend. My parents have friends who have ranches out near Balmorhea (great to have friends with ranches...everyone should have friends who have ranches!). I knew the general area was one I had wanted to go hunting for echinoids in  the Boracho Formation (some very special echinoids not found in my area). I did my research on Google maps and the Texas Geology website, hoping I could pinpoint the right roadcuts!  The first one we stopped at (I thought was the right formation) turned out to be a different formation, but I found some cool little brachiopods that are different than any i have encountered before and a couple of echinoids (phymosomas) and that was all for that little roadcut. Checked out a few more in the area but didn't find anything. Definitely didn't find what I was looking for! 

 

So on to our weekend at the ranch. The owner said he know of a "beach" on the ranch where "sea shells" were found. I was really surprised because on the Geology map it is all Igneous and Quaternary - nothing at all that looked Cretaceous fossiliferous. So we went driving around the ranch to the spot and to my GREAT surprise, we found an outcrop of Austin Chalk! I don't know how, but it was there! I found inoceramus clam parts and some of the most beautifully colored Exogyra erraticostata!  So that was a really special spot! ( @grandpa -another "fossil that shouldn't be there!"- but it was!)  

 

The final day we were to head home, I convinced my parents to drive 30 miles further West before we headed back east for home. I knew there were supposed to be some more outcrops of the Boracho accessible so we took a little side trip and happily I found the formation I was looking for!  And I was rewarded with a most LOVELY little Anorthopygus texanus echinoid! I initially thought it was a Coenholectypus transpecoensis (which was mainly what I was hoping to find -which I did not find!) but was happy to discover it was a more rare Anorthopygus! My mom found a nicely presereved Wahitaster wenoensis, so that was great too. I also found a phymosoma, but it's pretty beat up. A small section of a nautiloid and a nice bivalve which I think is a Lima wacoensis quadrangularis rounded out my day. So it was a good haul to West Texa! 

 

My best finds from Boracho /San Martine formation

Anorthopygus texanus  - 25 mm

: 

 

Washitaster wenoensis  25 mm

 

 

a not so great Phymosoma  1 1/2 inches

 

Lima wacoensis quadragularis  1 inch

 

From the Austin Chalk Formation on the ranch:

Exogyra erraticostata   3 inches

 

 

From the first roadcut which was Buda formation

Kingena (Waconella) sp?

 

what's odd about them is this "dip in the lip" so  I am not sure what species it is (it is for sure Cretaceous Kingena/ Waconella and not a Pennsylvanian Composita which it very much looks like -we had a nice long post on that!)

 

 

A few pics of some of the critters on the ranch:

Auadad (not native, but gone native)

 

Javelina mama and baby!

 

A mule deer 

wild turkeys

 

[grandpa]

2 minutes ago, JamieLynn said:

( @grandpa -another "fossil that shouldn't be there!"- but it was!)

Now cut that out! 

 

No, really DON'T.  I love it!! 

[JamieLynn]

heheheh...when you posted that on the other thread I was thinking....oh wait till he hears about THIS!! 

[JohnJ]

Great finds and nice photos, Jamie!  It's beautiful out that way.  

[JamieLynn]

It is indeed. The West has an austere beauty that I absolutely love. However, the greenery of Central Texas sure is restful on the eyes......

[facehugger]

Very cool stuff! Thanks for sharing, Jamie.

[Monica]

Your Anorthopygus texanus is a sweet little urchin - congrats on finding it!

[JamieLynn]

Thanks so much Monica! 

[minnbuckeye]

Great variety! Outstanding wildlife. Your turkeys have such LONG LEGS. 

 

 Mike

[Pagurus]

 Impressive! All your research is paying off.

[FossilNerd]

Great finds, both dead and alive! Beautiful fossils and wildlife. Man, I gotta get down to Texas!  

[JamieLynn]

Thanks y'all!!  @FossilNerd - yes you do! hahhahah