Richmond Trip

[izak_]

Yesterday I got home from a two week trip to Richmond, QLD where we collected from lots of different Early Cretaceous localities. I still have so much to go through and prep, photograph, etc. but here are a few things that I thought were worth photographing. 

 

A jewel beetle(?) from the Allaru Formation east of Richmond. I'm told this is the first Albian insect from Australia and the first from the Eromanga Basin, but there do seem to be a couple of other insects known from here (a dragonfly wing from the Toolebuc Formation and a scorpionfly wing). It was a really unexpected find since this site is known for things like bivalves, ammonites, belemnites, fish and marine reptiles. When viewing the rock it's in from the side it appears to be in between layers of Inoceramus. Will take some better photos with scale at some point but the specimen is about 15mm long. 

 

A plate of brittle stars from a property south of Richmond (Mackunda Formatiom)

 

A really pretty shark tooth from the same location as the brittle stars. This is the only specimen I've seen from here with so many cusps. 

 

A small section of articulated ichthyosaur (Platypterygius australis) paddle bones from the Allaru Formation east of Richmond.

 

Another from the same site as the previous specimen, a fish skull (Pachyrhizodus?). The other side of this specimen is still encased in limestone so I hope it will prep out well, this side is quite weathered. 

 

Will post some more tomorrow!

[Mikrogeophagus]

Wow. These are some amazing fossils...

Shark looks like some species of Paraorthacodus. 

 

Looking forward to seeing what else you found!

[t-tree]

Quality finds.

 

John

[Tidgy's Dad]

Stunning finds! 

Thanks so much for sharing these with us, 

[Fossildude19]

Great finds, Izak! Thanks for sharing them with us!.

[grandpa]

[Notidanodon]

Great finds love the paraorthacodus  

[izak_]

Thank you all! I appreciate the ID @EPIKLULSXDDDDD 

 

Here are a couple more things from today. I'm still preparing these ammonites from the Mackunda Formation site we visit, the little one below the heteromorph was an unexpected find and unfortunately I damaged it a bit before I realised it was there. 

 

Also, here is a tooth from the Toolebuc Formation west of Richmond, would appreciate any ID suggestions. It seems different to the elasmosaur teeth I found and has no striations like ichthyosaur teeth. Perhaps it's from a pterosaur? 

[izak_]

Also a better focus stack of the insect:

[Tidgy's Dad]

That insect is exquisite. 

[traveltip1]

Superb finds. 

[Collector9658]

Wow, you found some amazing fossils! That tooth is indeed very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

[FossilNerd]

Some great stuff so far. Thanks for sharing!  

 

[izak_]

One I finished preparing today, an elasmosaur tooth from the Toolebuc Formation.

[Huntlyfossils]

Absolutely amazing finds well done in regards to your mystery tooth I'm thinking a large fish tooth I have come accross one similar below is a confirmed Pterosaur tooth I found in Richmond the root does look similar but mine had striations. 

 

I can't wait to get back out to Richmond next month it is my favourite spot.

 

That elasmosaur tooth you found is an absoulte ripper keep up the great work.

 

[Jeffrey P]

Wow! That was a remarkable trip with magnificent finds. Big congratulations and thanks for sharing it. Love to see more. 

[izak_]

@Huntlyfossils, thank you so much! Fish was my other thought but I contacted Tim Richards from UQ and he seems to think it may be a pterosaur although isn't certain. Your tooth is gorgeous, great find!

 

Here's what Tim said:

"Without actually examining the specimen first-hand it is difficult to refer this tooth with absolute certainty.

However, given its crown size, slight distal recurvature and lack of ornamentation it is definitely possibly pterosaurian, probably belonging to an anhanguerian pterosaur.  

I’d need to see the basal cross section and whether there is any labiolingual compression present in the crown to be further certain."

[Notidanodon]

Love that elasmosaur tooth it’s in great condition  

[jpc]

wow.. really great stuff

 

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

Those are some truly spectacular finds! You could fill a small museum with the finds from just this trip! As a marine reptile guy, I, of course, particularly like the elasmosaur tooth! Such a beautiful specimen!

 

The other tooth I think is a fish tooth, since it's - as you already concluded yourself - neither plesiosaur nor ichthyosaur. Also, since it appears to have an acrodin cap at the top, that'd support its identification as a fish.

 

Must've been an awesome hunt!

[izak_]

Thank you all!

 

@pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon, thank you for your thoughts, I appreciate it!

 

Here is a little heteromorph I finished preparing, it is even wearing a little bivalve as a hat. 

[Anomotodon]

On 5/28/2023 at 3:52 AM, izak_ said:

 

All of these are some awesome specimens! I am actually quite confident this is a pterosaur tooth, Anhangueria indet. (see discussion on how to classify isolated teeth from Cretaceous pterosaurs) Enamel ornamentation or ridges are not always present in pterosaur teeth - it depends on the species and tooth position, since Anhanguerian pterosaurs were heterodontous - see skull of Ludodactylus for example. Typically, anterior-most teeth are the most ornamented, more posterior teeth - like yours - often have smooth enamel. Overall, strong labio-lingual compression, lack of/poorly developed carinae, very short root and lingual curvature are typical of Anhanguerians. I can’t think of early Cretaceous fish that would have these traits. 
 

On 6/2/2023 at 12:21 PM, pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon said:

The other tooth I think is a fish tooth, since it's - as you already concluded yourself - neither plesiosaur nor ichthyosaur. Also, since it appears to have an acrodin cap at the top, that'd support its identification as a fish.

I am not sure I see the acrodin cap - I think it’s just color of the enamel and some feeding wear.