GeschWhat Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I picked up some crab nodules that they were getting rid of at the lab (due to lack of provenance). They think they came from a place called Thompson Gulch, but I'm not sure where that is. I was looking at one of them under the microscope prior to prepping it and discovered what looks to be either coprolites or eggs that measure just under 1 mm in length. However, when I looked up modern crabs, their poop appears to have a long pellet shape and their eggs look round. Any ideas on whether these are coprolites or eggs? Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Here is another microscopic shot of the mystery ovoids. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave pom Allen Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 If they look like miniature clams and flattened in the long direction then they might be ostracods. My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 They aren't flattened at all. The ones that look flattened were just abraded. I will try to remove one to get a better look. I was wondering about the real tiny ones in the center of the first micro picture and to the left and bottom of the second micro photo. There are more of those that don't show up on photos I posted - I bet those could be ostracods. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Sorry to be a wet blanket, but to me the variation in size,shape and color of the rounded objects casts some doubt that they are fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I'm getting a bit of a coprolitic vibe here. Who can say if they came from the crab though? Great crab! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I'm getting a bit of a coprolitic vibe here. Who can say if they came from the crab though? Great crab! Ditto that. "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...
Plax Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I think worm copros that inhabited the crab carcass. Am thinking that I read a Gale Bishop paper describing these. Bad brain on my part but should give you some more info to google on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 (edited) Personally, I'm hoping coprolite...I love the snarge! I have been doing a little research since I originally posted. From what I have learned thus far, crabs do have a taste for roe. In some species of fish, the egg cases elongate as the embryo develops and look very similar in shape to the mystery objects. LINK I have a feeling these will remain a mystery...but it's fun to think about (if you are nerdy like me)! Edited July 6, 2015 by GeschWhat Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 I think worm copros that inhabited the crab carcass. Am thinking that I read a Gale Bishop paper describing these. Bad brain on my part but should give you some more info to google on. Thanks, Plax...I will look into it! I am really hoping coprolites - they are my favorite! Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Roe is very unlikely to fossilize at all, and it seems near to impossible that they should do so in a three-dimensional form. "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...
GeschWhat Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 I think worm copros that inhabited the crab carcass. Am thinking that I read a Gale Bishop paper describing these. Bad brain on my part but should give you some more info to google on. Worm poop it is! I found the abstract of the paper written by Gale Bishop. It is "Pierre feces; a scatological study of the Dakoticancer assemblage, Pierre Shale (upper Cretaceous) of South Dakota." I have requested a copy of the paper through the library, but after reading the abstract, I think you are right. This makes perfect sense! I got the crabs when I was working at the lab at the School of Mines in SD (not always a bad thing ), and that is where Bishop was affiliated at the time the paper was written. These don't look like they came out of Pierre Shale, but the multiple crab studies by Bishop would explain why the undocumented specimens ended up at the school. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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