JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Hello all! This is a little photo project I've been working on for a while. When I first started Fossil Hunting I was content to collect whatever. Then I was excited about Identifying what I was finding. The education continued and now I work to identify the geological formations I am collecting in and am able to know what fossils to look for in what areas. The Pocket Texas Geology website is invaluable for finding out the formation of a specific area (while not 100 percent accurate, it's pretty good). So I wanted to create a post that would help with Central Texas Cretaceous Fossil Identification and this Species by Formation post. There are a couple of great websites for North Texas Fossil ID, but none (that I am aware of) for specifically Central Texas. I am considering Central Texas to be the counties of Hays, Travis, Comal, Blanco, Bexar, Kendell, Williamson, Hill, Burnet, Llano, Bell, Coryell, McLennon and Bosque. And bear in mind, this is not a comprehensive list of all species found in these formations...still working on THAT! But this is what I have found and ID'd so far. I believe it contains MOST of the more commonly found fossils, plus some uncommon fossils. If you see a mis-identification, please let me know! Also, there are more formations than I am presenting, but these have been the most accessible to me. I will list them by ascending order of time period. My time periods are approximate. (Be aware, I am not a geologist nor paleontologist, just an avid amateur, so take it for what it's worth! ) Cretaceous Formations: Glen Rose, Walnut, Comanche Peak, Edwards , Georgetown, Buda, and Austin Chalk. Glen Rose Formation 106-110 MYA (Upper and Lower Glen Rose combined here) ECHINOIDS Row 1. Row 2. Row 3. Row 4. Row 5. Row 6. 1. Hyposalenia phillipsae Echinothurid plates Plagiochasma texanum 2, Goniopygus sp. Pygopyrina hancockensis Paraorthopsis comalensis 3. Loriolia rosana Goniopygus whitneyi Pseudodiadema aguilerai 4. Polydiadema travisensis Leptosalenia texana Hetearaster texanus 5. Coenholectypus sp. Pliotoxaster comanchei Phymosoma texana 6. Cidarid sp. Heteraster obliquetus Paracidarid texanus ECHINODERMATA ETC. 1. 2. 1. Unknown Crinoid Isocrinus annulatus Echinoderm Madreporite 2. Balanocidarid Spine Echinoid Spine Balanocidarid Spine AMMONITES 1. . Engonoceras piedernales Hypacanthoplites mayfieldensis DECAPODS 1. 2. 1. Crab Claw Unknown Crab Claw Unknown Pagurus banderiensis 2. Pagurus banderiensis Pagurus banderiensis Pagurus banderiensis ETCETERA 1. 2. 3. 1. Porocystis globularis Fish Pycnodont Teeth Turtle Bone Fragment 2. Foramnifera Orbitolina (group) Foramnifera Orbitolina (single) Coral Heliopora labyrinthicum 3. Spirobus Worm Annelid Worm GASTROPODS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5, 6. 7. 1. Neritina sp Semineritina apparata Pleutomaria glenrosensis 2. Natica texana Nerinia texana Nerinia harrisi 3. Fusus haysensis Turbo cuyleri Anchura monolifera 4. Cerithium blancoesnsis Unknown Gastropod Unknown Gastropod 5. Nerinia incisa Pseudomelania pupoides Tylostoma traviensis 6. Natica traski Cerithium bullardi Nerinia aquilina 7.. Tylostoma turmidum Purpuroides harperi Lunatia praegrandis BIVALVES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10. Other Bivalves : 11. 12. 13 . BIVALVES 1. Lima wacoensis Arca texana Ludbrookia arivechensis 2. Trigonia whitneyi Exogyra paupercula Plicatula parkerae 3. Brachidontes pedernalis Chlamys santoni Granocardium pseudopendens 4. Neithia occidentalis Cardium congestum Arctica comalensis 5. Pinna comancheana Granicardium pendens Fimbria hamiltonae 6. Trigonia gordoni Homomya comalensis Laternula simodsi 7. Psilomya walker Trigonia wendleri Homomya knowltoni 8. Tapes decepta Panopea henselli Arctica texana 9. Psilomya banderiensis Protocardia texana Arca medialis 10. Cyprimeria texana Idonearca terminalis Arctica roemeri 11. Lopha comalensis Ceratosterean texanum Exogyra guadalupae 12. Peilinia crenulimargo Liostrea ragsdalei 13. RUDISTS: Monopleura sp. Toucasia sp. Kimbleia capacis 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Walnut Formation 105-106 MYA ECHINOIDS 1. 2. 3. 1. Leptosalenia Mexicana Loriolia rosana Heteraster texanus 2. Coenholectypus planatus Phymosoma texanum Pliotoxaster sp, 3. Tetragramma malbosi Tetragramma taffi Tetragramma malbosi AMMONITES 1. Engonoceras sp Engonoceras gibbosum Oxytropidoceras sp. ETCETERA 1. 2 . 1. Unknown Crab Leg Unknown Crab Claw Unknown Crab Claw 2. Parasimilia austinensis Foramnifera Dictyconus walnutensis GASTROPODS 1. 2. 3, 1 Neritina sp Harpagodes stephensoni Monocyphus brittsi 2. Tylostoma tumidum Turritella seriatim-granulata Arrhoges sp. 3. Anchura sp. Tylostoma travisensis BIVALVES 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Neithia occidentalis Lima wacoensis Neithia sp. 2. Modiolus sp Pholadomya sanctisaba Neithia texana 3. Ceratostrean texanum Texigryphea mucronata Protocardia texana 4. Texigryphea roemeri Cyprimaria texana Pinna comancheana 15 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Comanche Peak Formation 104-105 MYA ECHINOIDS 1. 2. 1. Leptosalenia Mexicana Coenholectypus planatus Heteraster texanus 2. Phymosoma texanum Tetragramma sp AMMONITES 1. Engonoceras gibbosum Engonoceras sp Oxytopidoceras sp GASTROPODS From smallest (1/4 inch) to largest (2 inches) 1. 2.. 1. Nerita sp Tylostoma elvatum Turitella sp 2. Nerinia sp. Arrhoges sp Unknown Gastropod BIVALVES From smallest (1/2 inch) to largest (4 inches) 1. 2. 3. 1. Lima wacoensis Ludbrookia arivechensis Neithia subalpina 2. Tapes decepta Laternula sp. Homomya sp 3. Panopea regularis Ceratostrean texanum Pinna comancheana OTHER 1. Coral Parasimilia austinensis 15 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Edwards Formation 103-104 MYA RUDISTS 1. 2. 1. Eoradiolites sp Toucasia patagiata Caprinuloidea ? crassifibra 2. Monopleura sp. Caprinuloidea gracilis Toucasia texana GASTROPODS 1. Ceritella proctori Nerinia kervillensis Nerinia cultrispira BIVALVES 1. Chondrodonta munsoni Neithia duplicicosta 10 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Georgetown Formation 100-102 MYA ECHINOIDS 1. Echinoid Spine Holaster simplex Macraster elegens AMMONITES 1. Mariella sp Cymatoceras hilli Mortoniceras sp GASTROPODS 1.Turritella sp Leptomaria macilenta Turitella irrorata BIVALVES 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Plicatula subgurgitis Unknown Bivalve Neithia wright 2. Illymatogyra arietina Rastellum carinatum Neithia theodori 3. Neithia georgetownensis Trigonia clavigera Neithia altana 4. Lopha subovata Rudist Monopleura sp. Brachiopod Waconella (Kingena) wacoensis 12 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Buda Formation 98-100 MYA AMMONITES 1. 1.. Faraudiella archerae Cymatoceras hilli Budaiceras hyatti GASTROPOD AND BIVALVES 1 . 2. 1. Turritella sp Illymatogyra ariatina Neithia texana 2. Neithia budensis Rastellum carinatum Texigryphea roemeri 10 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Austin Chalk Formation 85-89 MYA AMMONITES All are approx. 4 inches 1. Eutrophoceras campbelli Pachydiscus travisi Unknown Ammonite ETCETERA 1. Unknown (possibly crinoid) Unknown Coral Ammonite Baculite sp. GASTROPODS Both approx. 2 inches 1,. Anchura texana Unknown Gastropod BIVALVES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 . 1. Unknown Bivalve Trigonia thoracica LIma wacoensis quadranglaris 2. Neithia austeninsis Astarte liniolata Exogyra tigrena 3. Pycnodont aucella Inoceramus subquadratus Exogyra laeviscula 4. Ostrea centrensis Lopha panda Inoceramos mytilopsis 5. Exogyra ponderosa erraticostata Exogyra ponderosa 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Scylla Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Wow, that's a great collection and useful guide to ID's. Thanks! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
grandpa Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Excellent collection, cataloguing and quality photos. I'll be using this for my own collection. Great work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Thanks y'all! I probably made a few mistakes, but hey, you get what you pay for.....hahhaahh Link to post Share on other sites
Tidgy's Dad Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Brilliant. And very, very useful. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
erose Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Wow. That is a lot to take in. Cool project. Vast majority looks spot on. I think the Neitheas need sorting out. N. subalpina should not be in the Comanche Peak and N. occidentalis is not a likely Buda species. But that is probably open to interpretation and it may take much closer inspection to get positive IDs. The only other thing that jumped out is the Pliotoxaster inflatus in the Walnut. There is definitely a Pliotoxaster in the Keys Valley Member but what species I am not sure. They look a lot like P. inflatus from the Goodland but maybe not exactly like them. Don't hesitate to just use the Genus if you are not sure. In my collection those Walnut Pliotoxaster are labeled as "Pliotoxaster sp." and I am currently quite happy with just that. Everyone gets hung up on nailing that species but it isn't always possible or even necessary Oh and the only other suggestion would be the need for some sort of scale. For example the Lunatia looks the same size as the Neritina. And it sure as heck isn't. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
erose Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 PS Walk thru all the spellings again. It's Pholadomya sanctisabae not Phylodoma. That was the only one I caught but check all the others. And I KNOW how hard it is to proof your own work. Just about impossible. I found I have to step away for some period of time and then print it out and read fresh to catch mistakes. But all easy to fix. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Thanks @erose for your input! I will work on all those suggestions! Plus, I just found a few new fossil from the Edwards today that I will be adding. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
FossilNerd Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 WOW! What a great visual guide to things found in your local formations. I'm sure putting this together was not a quick task. Thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Thanks @FossilNerd ! As you can see...I am a bit of a nerd about fossils too! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Leslie from Austin Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 I'm so glad I found this! You've created an invaluable resource that I'll refer to quite a bit-thanks! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Thanks @Leslie from Austin! I will be adding to it so do check back! You can also check out my website which does have the same stuff. www.fossil-quest.com Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 Okay! Some updating! I think I got all the Measurements up. Will be adding a few new fossils next....I keep finding stuff! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Even Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Brilliant! Link to post Share on other sites
LanceH Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Great collection. Yeah, there was a reason I went with NorthTexasFossils. I knew there were geologic, faunal and preservational differences further south. Also I don't get to hunt that far away so I have no specimens from there. Link to post Share on other sites
Jared C Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 @JamieLynn, Have you ever considered getting your Paracidarid texanus prepped? I highly suspect the aristotle's lantern may be present on it. Mine had a very similar looking, roughly pyramid shaped "hump" that capped the mouthparts Link to post Share on other sites
JamieLynn Posted May 14 Author Share Posted May 14 6 hours ago, Jared C said: @JamieLynn, Have you ever considered getting your Paracidarid texanus prepped? I highly suspect the aristotle's lantern may be present on it. Mine had a very similar looking, roughly pyramid shaped "hump" that capped the mouthparts But I think that is the top, not the bottom. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Jared C Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 1 hour ago, JamieLynn said: But I think that is the top, not the bottom. rookie mistake Link to post Share on other sites
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