Merritt Island, Florida - Pleistocene Fossils

[old bones]

I would like to thank TFF member Sacha for giving me the opportunity to search a brand new matrix that he collected from the Indian River of Florida near Merritt Island. The shelly matrix is from a spoil island consisting of dredge material for a shipping channel. It is of Pleistocene age and is considered 'Melbourne Bone Bed'.

The finds from this matrix were mostly terrestrial with a heavy Cricetidae presence. The amphibian finds were very surprising. Lizard fossils were something new for me as well. I had a lot of studying to do, and that is why this 'trip report' took so long. I have done my best to ID the ones that I didn't post in the IDs forum, but I am open to suggestions and corrections. I am here to learn.

There were numerous claws found in the 2 gallons of matrix that I searched. Only the first one, 'marsh bird', has been identified.

I still don't know what this tiny thing is... I was leaning towards a cranial element...

And the most exciting find is this frog phalange! (Thanks to Al Dente for the ID) And what I believe is another amphibian toe.

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Edited August 30, 2015 by old bones

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From researching lizard teeth, I learned that these are tricuspid teeth from a lizard like an anole. I found some partial mandibles as well.

Some of the lizard teeth and jaw bits are very different, and I suspect that they are from another family.

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What an assortment of toe bones! Check out all the variations of phalanges. If any can be identified, please jump right in.

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There were plenty of Sigmodon sp. finds including these teeth. I can't be sure whose incisors these are, but the molars are Sigmodon sp.. Cotton rat tooth 'C' appears to have a pathology on the root.

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Edited August 30, 2015 by old bones

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The other rodent genus which was well represented is Microtus. The accordion like teeth of the voles were fun to find.

I am not sure who the large grooved incisor belonged to.

or this very tiny molar

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After getting an ID on the first caudal vert that I found, I started seeing lots of them. Here are two photos of the caudal vertebrae.

Many of the other verts look like reptile and amphibian with ball and socket arrangement.

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Here is a sampling of the marine fossils that I found.

barnacle tergums > bryozoan >

coprolite >

scales > verts >

otolith-1 > otolith-2 >

The end! Thanks for looking

[PFOOLEY]

...Thanks for looking

Thanks for sharing. Love your lizard specimens.

I commend you on your photography...worthy of publications.

Edited August 30, 2015 by PFOOLEY

[Ancient Bones]

Wow Julianna what a great collection! And so minute! Super photos too. Well done!

[Sacha]

Julianna, what a range of finds! I really appreciate all the work you put into this matrix and am glad that, for as unimpressive as it is at first sight, it has some worthwhile things to offer. We visited this site to add film footage for the show and we did find a few macro fossils, but your finds are the crowning achievement for this segment.

[Auspex]

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

I am in awe of your patience, tenacity, and skills; you are a master of micros!

[RickNC]

Very cool. How do you take your pictures?

[jcbshark]

Awesome finds and pics too Julianna! The lizard material is really neat, other than gator, turtle and the occasional snake vert I don't find a lot of reptile macro material

[old bones]

Thanks for sharing. Love your lizard specimens.

I commend you on your photography...worthy of publications.

Thank you PFOOLEY, that means a lot coming from you!

Wow Julianna what a great collection! And so minute! Super photos too. Well done!

Thanks Ancient Bones.

Julianna, what a range of finds! I really appreciate all the work you put into this matrix and am glad that, for as unimpressive as it is at first sight, it has some worthwhile things to offer. We visited this site to add film footage for the show and we did find a few macro fossils, but your finds are the crowning achievement for this segment.

John, this was so interesting and educational a matrix. So very different from any I have done before. I enjoyed exploring new territory. I am honored to have my pictures included in such an exciting venue.

Edited August 31, 2015 by old bones

[old bones]

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

I am in awe of your patience, tenacity, and skills; you are a master of micros!

Wow, thanks, Auspex.

Very cool. How do you take your pictures?

Thanks, RickNC. I have a trusty old Sony Cybershot that has a terrific super macro setting. I use it attached to a stand to hold it steady. I have experimented a lot with lighting and backgrounds in the last two years.

Awesome finds and pics too Julianna! The lizard material is really neat, other than gator, turtle and the occasional snake vert I don't find a lot of reptile macro material

Thanks, Jeff! I do like the lizard stuff too. Those tiny little peg teeth are so perfect and shiny...

[Al Dente]

Nice finds. I'm pretty sure this one is part of an amphibian jaw. Modern amphibians have pedicellate teeth. The crowns of the teeth almost always drop off after the animal decays because they are attached by a non-mineralized dentine layer to the pedicel.

[donbrunning]

These will certainly show prominently in episode 105 (as we visit with fossil hunter David Celli on one of the Merritt Island spoil mounds he hunts and allowed us to accompany him to.) If it had not been for your expertise and extreme diligence, we would never had known the treasure trove of micro-fossils under every footprint we left! Thank you Julianna! Looking forward to seeing many fascinating ID's! (FYI: We credit TFF in our shows for helping with ID's).

[old bones]

Nice finds. I'm pretty sure this one is part of an amphibian jaw. Modern amphibians have pedicellate teeth. The crowns of the teeth almost always drop off after the animal decays because they are attached by a non-mineralized dentine layer to the pedicel.

frogjaw.jpg pedicellate.JPG

Now that is very cool. Thank you Eric. I am trying to picture what kind of frog or salamander was around in the Pleistocene. I suppose they weren't too different from those we have today. The reference picture you supplied looks just like those teeth I found. I have at least a dozen of those jaw pieces with some teeth in each. This has been so interesting.

[old bones]

These will certainly show prominently in episode 105 (as we visit with fossil hunter David Celli on one of the Merritt Island spoil mounds he hunts and allowed us to accompany him to.) If it had not been for your expertise and extreme diligence, we would never had known the treasure trove of micro-fossils under every footprint we left! Thank you Julianna! Looking forward to seeing many fascinating ID's! (FYI: We credit TFF in our shows for helping with ID's).

That's so neat that micros will get that kind of attention.

[MarcoSr]

Julianna

Great post! Awesome pictures! Amphibian and small reptile fossils are normally not collected because they are uncommon and because of their very small size. You have some really nice specimens. I need to up my bid on John's matrix auction that benefits TFF to get some of this matrix to search.

Marco Sr.

[Sacha]

Julianna

Great post! Awesome pictures! Amphibian and small reptile fossils are normally not collected because they are uncommon and because of their very small size. You have some really nice specimens. I need to up my bid on John's matrix auction that benefits TFF to get some of this matrix to search.

Marco Sr.

Marco, with the resources you have, can you help Julianna with ID's on any of her photos that may show sufficient diagnostic features?

[MarcoSr]

Marco, with the resources you have, can you help Julianna with ID's on any of her photos that may show sufficient diagnostic features?

John

I'll ask a friend of mine who knows a lot about fossil lizards, frogs and salamanders to look at the post. If he can't, I get out my Holman books and see if I can add anything additional.

Marco Sr.

[old bones]

Marco, with the resources you have, can you help Julianna with ID's on any of her photos that may show sufficient diagnostic features?

John

I'll ask a friend of mine who knows a lot about fossil lizards, frogs and salamanders to look at the post. If he can't, I get out my Holman books and see if I can add anything additional.

Marco Sr.

Thanks, Marco Sr., I am glad that you looked at this. It is very different from the usual micro matrix. I am very much interested in learning more about these reptiles and amphibians. I would love to get that book you mentioned...and the one on salamanders by the same author, but they are too steep for my budget.

I very much look forward to your input on the finds in this matrix.

Julianna

Edited September 8, 2015 by old bones

[old bones]

I need to update my trip report to reflect some changes in IDs.

I have a lot of Anole jaws with teeth

I have yet to photograph all of my finds, but here are a couple of amphibian jaw fragments with teeth.

And this one which has been confirmed as belonging to a frog.

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[old bones]

The specimen labeled 'A' is "probably an amphibian, most likely a frog maxilla."

'B' is from a lizard.

So far, I have found 4 of these scales which I am told are "anguimorph osteoderms probably from an ophisaurid."

I have collected 2 of these frontal bones which I think are probably from the voles that I am finding so many teeth from.

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Edited October 14, 2015 by old bones