PFOOLEY Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 A couple of years ago, while on a romp through the Rio Puerco Valley, I found this ammonite. Since then, I have attempted to find a proper i.d. for this specimen through literature and documentation of New Mexico's Late Cretaceous ammonites. With very little luck, the closest resemblance were ammonites in the subfamily Puzosiinae, which are not documented from New Mexico. Today I decided to show the curator and the ammonite researcher at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Good news...they did not know what it was! ...pretty exciting. Anyhoo, I have donated it to be studied but figured I would post it here as well. Unknown ammonite from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Paguate Mbr. of the Dakota Formation - New Mexico, USA. I doubt they'll be jumping on this right after lunch, but I will let ya'll know the results as I do. Happy hunting, -P. 2 "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilobolus Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Fantastic find! Keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Very cool, Mike! Congratulations! Well done. Regards, 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...
Foshunter Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) I am going to throw something out there to see if it sticks-----Rhaeboceras or my 1st choice Hypacanthoplites ?????----Tom Edited September 23, 2014 by Foshunter Grow Old Kicking And Screaming !!"Don't Tread On Me" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoreBack Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 That is just fantastic! I'm happy when I find a fragment of an ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 I am going to throw something out there to see if it sticks-----Rhaeboceras or my 1st choice Hypacanthoplites ?????----Tom Thanks for the thoughts, Tom. Rhaeboceras has some similar attributes but shows up later in the Cretaceous (Campanian). I will pass along this idea. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Always exciting to find something rare! I dunno what it is either, but I'm relieved to hear they dunno either Hopefully they get to it after supper. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Fantastic find! Keep us posted! Thank you sir, I will do just that. Very cool, Mike! Congratulations! Well done. Regards, Thanks Tim. I don't find much that hasn't already been documented, so this is awesome! That is just fantastic! I'm happy when I find a fragment of an ammo. I was pretty giddy when I left the museum...and now that I think about it...it was fantastic! "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Always exciting to find something rare! I dunno what it is either, but I'm relieved to hear they dunno either Hopefully they get to it after supper. Roger, this is turning out to be my most exciting find. I always considered the ammonites I scour the desert for to be long ago documented...then this gem. I received an email from the museum expressing their gratitude for the donation with a note about, if nothing else, it being a new taxon from the formation. Yippee...science. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Roger, this is turning out to be my most exciting find. I always considered the ammonites I scour the desert for to be long ago documented...then this gem. I received an email from the museum expressing their gratitude for the donation with a note about, if nothing else, it being a new taxon from the formation. Yippee...science. Yet another example that goes to show that just about all serious enthusiasts like yourself usually stumble onto something special as time goes on. Thing is you usually only recognize that once you establish contact with the profis. I had an ammonite displayed for 2 years in my collection which would still be collecting dust if a friend of mine hadn't recognized it for what it is. Since then I show all my question marks to those in the know. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Mike Really nice specimen! It is always great when the specimen stumps an expert at first. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Just a little update on this ammonite. It is indeed a new species (in the process of being described) and "is the first record of Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) in the Cenomanian of North America". A first for New Mexico was cool, but a first for North America is ice cold. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Whoa! Epic find "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Just a little update on this ammonite. It is indeed a new species (in the process of being described) and "is the first record of Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) in the Cenomanian of North America". Parapuzosia2.jpg A first for New Mexico was cool, but a first for North America is ice cold. Excellent, Mike! Congratulations on finding a first! Awesome! Regards, 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...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Most excellent! Will this be your first pfooleyi? You might consider requesting a painted plastotype of this specimen. Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 That is not only cool and ice cold, but, like, freezing! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Well done, Mike. I'll have to review some of my micro ammonites for similarities. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 (edited) Thank you gents. I am quite excited about this ammonite...my first, first. I never had an expectation for finding something new in a well documented formation. Just goes to show...leave no stone unturned. I am looking forward to the finalized description of the species... Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) Foleyi ?... . Edited April 29, 2015 by PFOOLEY "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 I'll have to review some of my micro ammonites for similarities. I would be very interested to see what you find. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 very exciting, pfooley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 This is great,congrats! " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Thanks jpc and abyssunder...it has been quite the ride (of, hopefully, many more). "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 On 4/28/2015 at 1:07 PM, PFOOLEY said: Just a little update on this ammonite. It is indeed a new species (in the process of being described) and "is the first record of Parapuzosia (Austiniceras) in the Cenomanian of North America". A first for New Mexico was cool, but a first for North America is ice cold. Following this abstract a paper was written, submitted and rejected...it is not Parapuzosia. Rewrite...resubmit... ...accepted! I have had the pleasure of reading the new article (unfortunately I do not have permission to share with you as it will be published later this month in Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie) that describes this mystery ammonite as the first record of the ammonite Pachydesmoceras maroccanum from N. America, indicating a trans-Atlantic migration and the first Cenomanian record of the genus...still pretty nifty. 3 "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Congratulations Mike! Although it is always cool to have a new species, sometimes a situation like this tells a better story. In this case the fossil documents both a trans-oceanic connection and a range extension in space and time for the genus. A new species can be kind of a data point off on it's own, difficult to connect to other data points. For example, new species are not really solid data points to use for correlation. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 Thank you, Don. You are right, this ends up being a much more interesting story. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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