Fishinfossil Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Sifting Big Brook today and this came up from a deep dig. It has the look of a Lobster claw or Shrimp claw, which are usually only half inch in length or so. This specimen is roughly 3 inches long and about 1-3/4 in diameter at thickest and 1-inch at thinnest point. Its actually pretty heavy. There's noticeable ridges on each side near the edge and looks like little nubs almost like on lobster claws. Cretaceous era fossils normally in the stream. What could it be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 This looks very much like a bivalve of some sort, to me. @Jeffrey P @frankh8147 @Carl 7 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Broken shell fragment was my first impression as well. 1 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 I'm seeing a Pinna there. Or at least some sort of bivalve. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paleorunner Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Yes ! I think it is the base part of a pinna. This photo can be used to make a comparison. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I'm seeing that as a razor clam in a concretion. I'll have to look that up. I've only seen a handful of those from the Wenonah Formation. It is a super rare find. Congratulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinfossil Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 Thanks for the insights. It does look like the tip of a Pinna shell, but that razor clam is intriguing. @Jeffrey P Do you have an example of a razor clam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I don't have any specimens of razor clams from New Jersey's Cretaceous. As I said, they're quite rare. frankh8147 has collected at least one. All of the specimens I've seen are in the MAPS collection. I could forward photos of yours to them and get their ID feedback. Also, your specimen looks like it would benefit from preparation by a professional. You might consider donating it to MAPS because of its condition and rarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinfossil Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 @Jeffrey P If it truly is a razor clam and is considered rare, I would definitely donate to MAPS. If you can dig up any info on it, please feel free to share images with anyone who may have some more insight. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 1 minute ago, Fishinfossil said: @Jeffrey P If it truly is a razor clam and is considered rare, I would definitely donate to MAPS. If you can dig up any info on it, please feel free to share images with anyone who may have some more insight. Thanks! Besides being extremely rare, the condition of the specimen is impressive. It looks like it's very fresh out of the matrix and there's little or no stream damage which could possibly make it one of the best specimens of this type ever collected. By the way, the absence of any vertical ribbing makes me doubt it's a pinna, but if I'm wrong it would still be a very rare specimen. I already messaged Frank on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinfossil Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 @Jeffrey P Great. Thanks for looking into it. Standing by.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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