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I was very fortunate to obtain some loose matrix and chunks of matrix that I need to break down. I really have only been working on the loose matrix so far. It has not m.uch but has been extremely productive with amazing teeth.  This is the first time I have gone through matrix from this area and the colors are amazing. The matrix is absolutely loaded with so much great stuff. Most of the items I have found so far are firsts for me. Enjoy the pics!

@JBMugu

 

I have barely scratched the survive with the big chucks of matrix but these two verts came out of it. They cleaned up nice!  My first whale vert 1.5 inches. 
610C760C-6731-4E5D-A73E-CD8B63D723EB.jpeg.8906061d9e18195ccadf1bdfb2d091e7.jpeg
CFFB4424-917E-4B60-BCED-9FEB4741F528.jpeg.160914f96c14a36515e6c929ba6af901.jpeg
.75 inch shark vert

9C77D3D3-7007-4090-9AB2-BAD82C66DB6A.jpeg.ca12b38bf8e3091c22c35c48b2b9ab8f.jpeg
 

Cow Shark

41EA984E-B791-4748-977A-DB62B4EF784A.jpeg.d1ed28aece287191f65a8c8a593c72e8.jpeg93843748-4B1B-4E73-BB6A-3DF1AD1F6F5A.jpeg.04a19f0b3fba0d2ed30994bcbd407868.jpeg
Angel Shark

299EA3E3-83FB-46F2-BFA3-AFE26A171616.jpeg.119f6ade956413fca3cfbf9e1113b1ee.jpeg
Dog Shark

CE98C005-35B9-4A33-8DC4-552F643A4E70.jpeg.f465476db4a925d1619543a508bd8f07.jpeg

 

40D4BA60-8153-4C1C-9BFA-6358358B3826.jpeg.44ef539d9a9826874b35a16c709bb878.jpeg

 

31B4D27C-60D4-4BF6-9490-1C1E2FC4DE69.jpeg.d8cdbaf8af01092abfb00ce3d6f7a429.jpeg

 

 

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These are items I found throuch the microscope:

 

Basking Shark 1-6.  I am a little skeptical of the last one.  Any opinions is much appreciated.

5fe104f7c3863_FriDec0416-08-49.jpg.8db337993414bc06106895d97edfccb2.jpg5fe1052fbf8d5_MonDec2112-55-19.jpg.133da5c37ae9b5892ed063e01df6299c.jpg5fe105304f14d_MonDec2112-52-36.jpg.038cf6419f0fb7fc546da19ece42915f.jpg5fe10530bd30a_FriDec0415-06-41.jpg.8e695e2f2c793d0ceb27a1c8a118c65a.jpg5fe105313fb22_FriDec0415-03-23.jpg.8d7732ac108293ba46f0b8a4d55b1f01.jpg5fe10531ab04d_FriDec0414-56-18.jpg.bbeef37ea265552723eace401d0199c3.jpg

 

 Catshark

5fe106467bede_MonDec2112-54-16.jpg.22b31cc4ca79d0cbc58c2bb6b42c336c.jpg

 

I believe these are denticles?  @Al Dente

1.

5fe1067d5de4b_FriDec0415-03-56.jpg.6cad4b99a235c5d657ef3266889bcb91.jpg

2.

5fe10689663e9_MonDec2112-53-15.jpg.6a0fdcf025f5f5bc4ce80063ad5326d4.jpg

Sideview

5fe10688e7c3a_MonDec2112-53-26.jpg.6a49246e5455a15b64d90ee067fb75f6.jpg

Angel Shark

5fe1070e88133_FriDec0415-34-49.jpg.9ad24e61b6f8e420d37a6615934f8292.jpg

5fe1070f0cb16_FriDec0415-34-40.jpg.6c2fb1961c4b774c6b6a5588d1d1c9a6.jpg

 

Tons of ray teeth with possible denticles. I have putting them all in one gem jar to seperate later after I am all done going through everything.  

5fe10736dfa18_FriDec0415-22-21.jpg.645814cefa97a9637198ad9ee3ed66e9.jpg

5fe1073757199_FriDec0415-22-07.jpg.a06f45f6ed79df2cb57c09605d8adbab.jpg

5fe10737d8e26_FriDec0415-21-48.jpg.7e3f0544d9a26068e2f7d63c8dd6da64.jpg

 

More to come...

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, hokietech96 said:

I believe these are denticles?

Yes. This one is from a male Squatina. They have them on their pectoral fins.

 

 

DAD9F271-6E3B-48B0-9262-0CF93A0A276B.jpeg

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23 minutes ago, Al Dente said:

Yes. This one is from a male Squatina. They have them on their pectoral fins.

 

 

Thanks!

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STH matrix is some really fossiliferous and diverse stuff to pick through. Definitely one of the top 10 localities of matrix I've picked. Wonderful specimens and beautiful colors.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

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2 hours ago, digit said:

STH matrix is some really fossiliferous and diverse stuff to pick through. Definitely one of the top 10 localities of matrix I've picked. Wonderful specimens and beautiful colors.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

This has been my favorite so far! 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hope everyone had a great holiday season!  I have been spending my free time going through more matrix.  Found some interesting finds that I would like to share.  I think I have my IDs correct but any opinions are much appreciated.

 

1-2.  Heterodontus lateral tooth - Bullhead/Horn Shark

5ff601454b877_TueDec2215-53-53.jpg.b99714b2df47a308e40d22c64561d324.jpg5ff60144a9c20_TueDec2215-54-13.jpg.52847fbe7a215dceaf0c0e7994a0901b.jpg

2.5ff60143a08aa_TueDec2215-54-52.jpg.8e1b4ff163890c79ca83bdafd195ffbb.jpg5ff601442f39c_TueDec2215-54-23.jpg.f40a747f6da1ff557a10712d6c07731f.jpg

 

3-4. Galeorhinus - Tope shark - Love the colors on these

5ff6014087c0f_TueDec2215-58-18.jpg.dc35e98f6f51298d269a233c4212fbda.jpg

4.5ff6014115cde_TueDec2215-57-53.jpg.2f38c4900c3c8f96186946a12299b671.jpg

 

5-6.  My first impression is always to go with Cat shark with this type of tooth.  The more I look at it and what is on ELASMO I am thinking it is Houndshark - Triakis lateral tooth.  @Al Dente

5ff60146c8906_TueDec2215-34-11.jpg.782fdeff96d4c6a13b6fde970d6c8321.jpg5ff601474f7c7_TueDec2215-33-38.jpg.ac7fa16e40604d54ea0114a6a684e108.jpg5ff60147cf5f6_TueDec2215-33-10.jpg.82798cd8a8c7de90593de96468a8e0f9.jpg

6.5ff6014193a84_TueDec2215-57-09.jpg.96431efef700c5e9aff6d2384a36a578.jpg5ff601421dbd4_TueDec2215-56-51.jpg.cb47ddc3f0e42f7f9dede08daf4f85f5.jpg

7.  Basking Shark - Cetorhinus - I know have already posted pics above of Basking shark.  What is different about this one is it actually shows the single cusp that this type of shark has

5ff601431a5ad_TueDec2215-55-19.jpg.a5441edb069de156cb88946f08b33ba1.jpg

5ff6014299cd3_TueDec2215-55-33.jpg.70d1165e229a95dcc640396599ce7dbf.jpg

 

8. This is 5MM great looking tooth with all the serrations.  Carcharhinus tooth but have no idea what species?  Any thoughts? @Al Dente

5ff60145c7c1f_TueDec2215-37-47.jpg.ec80a8cc327e5353bb663b2d400f9e31.jpg

5ff60146565c3_TueDec2215-37-10.jpg.c8ffad7ec76729fd166e76c04a152f17.jpg

 

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54 minutes ago, hokietech96 said:

My first impression is always to go with Cat shark with this type of tooth.  The more I look at it and what is on ELASMO I am thinking it is Houndshark - Triakis lateral tooth.  @Al Dente

5ff60146c8906_TueDec2215-34-11.jpg.782fdeff96d4c6a13b6fde970d6c8321.jpg

I think it is Galeorhinus, probably a lower anterior. 

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Hi Al Dente,

 

Galeorhinus teeth are not this symmetrical except at the parasymphyseal position.  The cusp generally leans distally though the mesial cutting edge can be convex.  I think this is a Triakis tooth which does tend to have two lateral cusplets while the cusplets are more like coarse serrations in Galeorhinus and they tend to be more numerous and distinct on the distal side.  There are usually short folds (vertical wrinkles) on the labial face at the crown foot just where it overhangs in Triakis but the base is smooth in Galeorhinus. 

 

Jess

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9 hours ago, siteseer said:

Hi Al Dente,

 

Galeorhinus teeth are not this symmetrical except at the parasymphyseal position.  The cusp generally leans distally though the mesial cutting edge can be convex.  I think this is a Triakis tooth which does tend to have two lateral cusplets while the cusplets are more like coarse serrations in Galeorhinus and they tend to be more numerous and distinct on the distal side.  There are usually short folds (vertical wrinkles) on the labial face at the crown foot just where it overhangs in Triakis but the base is smooth in Galeorhinus. 

 

Jess

Triakids are a mess. Modern DNA analysis shows that the genus Triakis is polyphyletic. Some species of Triakis are more closely related to the genus Galeorhinus and Hemitriakis than they are to other species of Triakis. If I were to compare this tooth with modern Triakids, I think it most closely resembles Hemitriakis. Second photo from here-http://naka.na.coocan.jp/jawtriakidaeb.html

 

 

Triakis.JPG

Galeorhinus2.JPG

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Here is a Miocene Galeorhinus with similar teeth (A and B). From Cappetta's Handbook of Paleoichthyology.

 

 

Galeorhinus.JPG

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On 12/21/2020 at 2:22 PM, hokietech96 said:

My first whale vert 1.5 inches. 

I’m curious, this seems very small for a whale vertebrae. I’m not at all familiar with STH material, so I’m just asking. That does look like fun matrix to go through. Enjoy!!

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Years ago, I tried to identify the Triakis teeth in the STH Bonebed.  It seemed to me to be closest to the T. semifasciata, which is known today in shallow, warm to cool-temperate waters from Oregon and south to Mazatlan, Mexico.   Both show one to two pairs of low lateral cusplets and variability in the presence of labial folds at the crown foot.  The lateral cusplets of T. scyllium can be higher and more slender than those seen in T. semifasciata.

 

It is interesting that Hemitriakis dentitions can bear forms that overlap Galeorhinus and Triakis morphologies.  Galeorhinus is known from the late Cretaceous but Triakis doesn't appear until the early Paleocene while Hemitriakis doesn't seem to have a fossil history.  In the STH Bonebed, the Galeorhinus form is common while the Triakis form is uncommon in my experience so I don't think we are looking at something like uppers and lower of the same shark.  The geographical ranges of Galeorhinus and Triakis overlap across the entire California coast today.  Hemitriakis is not known from the eastern Pacific Ocean. 

 

I have never seen an article that reviews the Triakis teeth of the STH Bonebed in any detail.  David Starr Jordan (1919) did describe T. beali based on a single, incomplete tooth that doesn't look like a triakid and is 2-3 times the size of the average triakid.  David Ward once commented that the holotype may be the tip of a Hemipristis tooth.  It should be noted that n the early 20th century there wasn't as much focus on small shark teeth as there would be by the 70's and 80's.

 

Jess

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On 1/9/2021 at 12:22 PM, ClearLake said:

I’m curious, this seems very small for a whale vertebrae. I’m not at all familiar with STH material, so I’m just asking. That does look like fun matrix to go through. Enjoy!!

 

It's a caudal (tail) vertebra which is smaller.  The whales of the Middle Miocene were also generally smaller than they are today especially the ones found in the STH Bonebed.  A big whale was maybe 30-35 feet long.  There were bigger whales but even those were maybe 50-60 feet and evidence of them is rare in the bonebed (those big Scalidcetus-grade sperm whales with the big teeth) because they likely preferred the open sea and deeper water rather than a bay environment.  The larger baleen whales of today appeared in the Pliocene and Pleistocene.

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