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Mississippi Cretaceous Chalk Find- Jaw Or Crustacean Part?


BFunderburk

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Inoceramus parts in my opinion, while in Texas I handled those fossils many times... and my heart jumped more than once seeing those "things" :(

the lack of ornamentation and the fibrous structure are not from crabs.

Anway here I drop other ideas (they are just ideas): cephalopods, balanus, some kind of corals, rudists, other kind of big shells parts like Isognomon

I have not photos of fossils I am speaking about, but this is the kind of ground where I found them :)

NICE! Thanks! My frustration is that no person or book or website can show me a convincing image of what I've found! Happy Thanksgiving, Nandomas!

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They are crab, not clam. Undescribed species of crab/lobster. I am surprised you found so many close together though, very interesting. I usually find a few of them when I go out each time but not that many at once!

See http://www.thefossil...the-past-month/ also, site reference to Texas specimens towards bottom of page.

First person from Starkville I have seen on here! How long have you been in the area?

Yes, AnThOnY, that is EXACTLY it- now look at that pincer end, and ponder... THANKS!

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Now I am very happy. These images, from:

>http://www.northtexasfossils.com

are from the PawPaw Period in Tarrant County, Texas (Nov., 7, 2007)

Please go back and look at my find of a few days ago- wherein elongated part meets a pincer-like part, very similar to these.

THIS IS MUCH CLOSER TO AN ANSWER than the "inoceramus hinge" direction (no offense, friends). We are getting closer.post-7693-0-33979700-1353649167_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-76988800-1353649178_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-04724900-1353649580_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-58387200-1353649587_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-42135400-1353649596_thumb.jpg

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(the first 2 photos are from the North Texas Fossils site (Paw Paw); the next 3 are of my finds in Oktibbeha County, MS.)

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It is strange to see a concentration of partial crab claws......however I submit the following for scrutiny. The nature of the material doesn't look like Inoceramus to me.

Again, Danwoehr, are these your specimens? Where found? These are absolutely what I found- but the recent find with pincer/claw at end is so very similar to the ones on the North Texas Fossils site- Pawpaw Period, found in Tarrant County. Thanks for your help/interest! BF

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the ones i posted all hail from the corsicana fm (maastrichtian) of sourh tx

Grüße,

Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas

"To the motivated go the spoils."

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Now I am very happy. These images, from:

>http://www.northtexasfossils.com

are from the PawPaw Period in Tarrant County, Texas (Nov., 7, 2007)

Please go back and look at my find of a few days ago- wherein elongated part meets a pincer-like part, very similar to these.

THIS IS MUCH CLOSER TO AN ANSWER than the "inoceramus hinge" direction (no offense, friends). We are getting closer.post-7693-0-33979700-1353649167_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-76988800-1353649178_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-04724900-1353649580_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-58387200-1353649587_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-42135400-1353649596_thumb.jpg

The lower cretaceous paw-paw formation is heck and gone from the upper createous of MS. Inoceramus are not common in this formation. In addition, the first two photos are DEFINITELY crab claws. Also, in the paw-paw, crabs are VERY abundant. I have 20-25 different species of crabs and lobsters from the paw-paw. Also carapaces are common.

However, look at the non-fiberous structure of the first two photos, and compare them to the other fiberous pieces. They are not the same.

HOWEVER... I could be associating two different things that look very similar. It could be that these are some wierd type of scaphopod or who knows.

That's the beauty of paleontology. You get to see so many new things you never imagined. I am continually surprised as to what some things turn out to be!

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The lower cretaceous paw-paw formation is heck and gone from the upper createous of MS. Inoceramus are not common in this formation. In addition, the first two photos are DEFINITELY crab claws. Also, in the paw-paw, crabs are VERY abundant. I have 20-25 different species of crabs and lobsters from the paw-paw. Also carapaces are common.

However, look at the non-fiberous structure of the first two photos, and compare them to the other fiberous pieces. They are not the same.

HOWEVER... I could be associating two different things that look very similar. It could be that these are some wierd type of scaphopod or who knows.

That's the beauty of paleontology. You get to see so many new things you never imagined. I am continually surprised as to what some things turn out to be!

I totally agree with this post :)

Erosion... will be my epitaph!

http://www.paleonature.org/

https://fossilnews.org/

 

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OH! Roz just alerted me to this thread.

Yeah, those look like the bits of crustacean claws I've seen. I didn't know what they were years ago either until I found enough in one spot that fit together and then it became obvious. :P

Does anyone know exactly which crustacean they come from?

The curled edge on Inoceramus also has the rows of hollow slots where it's broken and you can see the inside but as others pointed out the Inoceramus shell has a that unique fiberous grain when broken, also the shell materail is still shell-like, not chalky and calcified like the claws.

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Today, out to a local site- Oktibbeha Co., MS. Wasn't necessarily looking for it , BUT happened to find more of these long triangular pieces AND one pincer piece, smaller, but similar to former pincer-like part that fit onto elongated piece. I submit this, along with the North Texas crustacean specimen (Danwoehr/AnThOnY).

(6th image is the Texas find)

Last image is of crustacean pieces found about 2 miles from today's site in MS.

Cheers!

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post-7693-0-63545100-1353739307_thumb.jpg

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The lower cretaceous paw-paw formation is heck and gone from the upper createous of MS. Inoceramus are not common in this formation. In addition, the first two photos are DEFINITELY crab claws. Also, in the paw-paw, crabs are VERY abundant. I have 20-25 different species of crabs and lobsters from the paw-paw. Also carapaces are common.

However, look at the non-fiberous structure of the first two photos, and compare them to the other fiberous pieces. They are not the same.

HOWEVER... I could be associating two different things that look very similar. It could be that these are some wierd type of scaphopod or who knows.

That's the beauty of paleontology. You get to see so many new things you never imagined. I am continually surprised as to what some things turn out to be!

Yes! It is for this mystery that I seek not just ID's but patterns- design and order- today's (Friday, 23rd, Nov.) find of a pincer very similar to North Texas ones points the way.

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  • 3 weeks later...
post-7693-0-05558800-1355199160_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-90034300-1355199171_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-13131800-1355199180_thumb.jpgA great day Sunday. Not much found but exactly what I was looking for, in my Little Chalk Canyon, Starkville/Oktibbeha Co., MS (Prairie Bluff/Ripley/Selma Chalk). Here are parts found within 15 feet (and about 3 miles from my last site posted) of each other. The first two phots are mine; the 3rd is Danwoehr's from Texas. Anyone have a positive ID on genus/species? Danwoehr? Boneman 007? AnThOnY?
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  • 4 weeks later...

OK. Resolved. These "crustacean-like" parts, which some have decried "Inceramus hinges", are most truly related to those unidentified "crustacean-like" specimens from Tarrant County/Pawpaw formation (TX; Danwoehr post-7693-0-29336200-1357244647_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-19965700-1357244658_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-15017900-1357244665_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-91920600-1357244676_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-87812500-1357244724_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-44143200-1357244734_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-44149200-1357244815_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-98994500-1357244863_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-60496500-1357244874_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-31302000-1357244882_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-33344400-1357244895_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-96310000-1357244921_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-00252700-1357244933_thumb.jpgpost-7693-0-32168400-1357244988_thumb.jpg). A new specimen (specimens), found in late December within 3 miles of other Prairie Bluff/Ripley Form./Selma Chalk Upper Cretaceous material, all pictured here.

First 3 photos are of in situ materials found as float at site. Note the triangular pieces in proximity, then (closeup) the undulating piece near a bubble shell shaped, long, thin piece. Both have a grooved underside. Did it attach?

Next photos are closeups of the new pieces. They echo the previously found specimens.

These were found overlying blue-grey clay above an area of yellower, more glaucaceous sand/clay where many sharks' teeth, a few enchodus teeth, and many little scallop-like shells were found that day.

I show the new find in the context of many other similar forms, always found near one another, at sites herein northeast Mississippi (Oktebbeha County), within 3-5 miles.

HELP! Any further ID ideas? I appreciate this conversation!

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george phillips is your best resource. crabby pincers for sure, but beyond that i need to fold...out of my league

Grüße,

Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas

"To the motivated go the spoils."

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crab claw frags are occasionally found in our peedee like this. Always thought they were Ophthalmoplax claws or perhaps some are something bigger like Enocploclytia?

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george phillips is your best resource. crabby pincers for sure, but beyond that i need to fold...out of my league

Thank you, Danwoehr! You have been terrifically helpful- will see Master Phillips soon, and will report back. Life is good. Happy hunting!

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crab claw frags are occasionally found in our peedee like this. Always thought they were Ophthalmoplax claws or perhaps some are something bigger like Enocploclytia?

Thanks! Will look into these. I am from Charlotte/mostly a rockhound from youth, but Aurora, NC (college/ECU) wet my whistle, and since MS has few "rocks" (some geodic river stuff, petrified wood, and wondrous pyrite/marcasite from here/Oktibbeha Co.), fossils began to trip me up daily, here in the Black Belt/Prairie! Sated now. Where is "Rocky Point"? Happy trails, Plax!

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Rocky Point is a little north of Wilmington. Tons of Cretaceous in this area along rivers and in local quarries. George Phillips will definitely be your best bet on an ID as others have stated. One of the best and most accessible paleontologists we are blessed to have.

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Rocky Point is a little north of Wilmington. Tons of Cretaceous in this area along rivers and in local quarries. George Phillips will definitely be your best bet on an ID as others have stated. One of the best and most accessible paleontologists we are blessed to have.

Thanks, Plax. Grew up w/shells and shark teeth on NC/SC beaches. Will do Wilmington area fossiling someday. Best of fortune to you!

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  • 9 months later...

OK. Resolved. These "crustacean-like" parts, which some have decried "Inceramus hinges", are most truly related to those unidentified "crustacean-like" specimens from Tarrant County/Pawpaw formation (TX; Danwoehr attachicon.gifIMG_9255.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9256.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9254.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9326.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9330.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9332.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9344.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9324 2.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9325.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9333.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9339.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9337.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9335.JPGattachicon.gifIMG_9324.JPG). A new specimen (specimens), found in late December within 3 miles of other Prairie Bluff/Ripley Form./Selma Chalk Upper Cretaceous material, all pictured here.

First 3 photos are of in situ materials found as float at site. Note the triangular pieces in proximity, then (closeup) the undulating piece near a bubble shell shaped, long, thin piece. Both have a grooved underside. Did it attach?

Next photos are closeups of the new pieces. They echo the previously found specimens.

These were found overlying blue-grey clay above an area of yellower, more glaucaceous sand/clay where many sharks' teeth, a few enchodus teeth, and many little scallop-like shells were found that day.

I show the new find in the context of many other similar forms, always found near one another, at sites herein northeast Mississippi (Oktebbeha County), within 3-5 miles.

HELP! Any further ID ideas? I appreciate this conversation!

Well- this is definitely the same material- not doubt. I am finding associated with Mosasaur, Shark, Sponge & Coral. Abundant Rudistids & Exogyra Ponderosa. Thanks for the reply! The long one is amazing.\o/ Do send word if you have any followup on this one.~

If anyone has beautifully fossilized Inoceramus with detailed hinge area? Send closeups. I would like to see them regardless of the debate. We have huge valves here in Austin- but I do not remember seeing the hinge exposed. Got to hit the ditch again!

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Great conversation, Bronto. Ensconced now but will post more this next weekend. Yes, associated here with late Cretaceous- Mosasaur, Enchodus, Rudists, etc. Found tiniest Mosasaur tooth ever... and nice Belemnite point yesterday. Cheers!

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Here are a few clam hinges I remembered to take pictures of a while ago, incase this came back up. These litter the ground in some places in W-Ks.

Ramo

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For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun.
-Aldo Leopold
 

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Thank you, Ramo. Very helpful. The material that is being corroborated in MS, AL and TX that is similar to these clam hinges is more and more believed to be the chelae of an upper Cretaceous crustacean. These are calcareous and are associated in the Prairie Bluff Formation with more easily identifiable crab claws/pincers, but the imaging of an overall taxonomy and form has not been realized. Several have pointed to Ophthalmoplax but I just don't see it! I'll post more photos as soon as I can/next weekend. Appreciate your photos and care!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well- this is definitely the same material- not doubt. I am finding associated with Mosasaur, Shark, Sponge & Coral. Abundant Rudistids & Exogyra Ponderosa. Thanks for the reply! The long one is amazing.\o/ Do send word if you have any followup on this one.~

If anyone has beautifully fossilized Inoceramus with detailed hinge area? Send closeups. I would like to see them regardless of the debate. We have huge valves here in Austin- but I do not remember seeing the hinge exposed. Got to hit the ditch again!

Back soon/busy time- WILL post new images of our mystery crustacean! Best , BFun

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