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Need help with two devonian fossils

Dsailor

By Dsailor
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Dsailor Regular Member

Dsailor

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Hi Folks,

 

Was wondering if you could help me ID these two fossils. Both were found in Schoharie creek and are Devonian from, I think, the Gilboa formation. The first I think is a bryozoa but someone mentioned it could be a gyracanth fin spine due to the bone-like texture. I could the best photos I could using a tripod and a nikon 3300D

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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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Hey Dom,

 

The first one definitely looks like a cross section of a fish spine. Very cool for that area.

Not sure fish have previously been found there. 

 

The second item is plant, a rachis or branch of something. Not sure what the options are, other than Eospermatopteris,  (trunks and branches) and Wattezia (leaves and branches). 

 

That spine may be scientifically important for that area.

Maybe @Carl can have Dr. John Maisey have a look at it. 

 

Regards,

 

 

I also wonder if @fossilcrazy might have any thoughts on these. 

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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abyssunder Regular Member

abyssunder

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I'm wondering if the second couldn't be a cladoxylopsid tree branch, something along Wattieza .

 

Wattieza.thumb.jpg.db9ee1bde54e223e901c88a0104cc1fd.jpg

 

"No one knew the fossils existed, until 1850, when an amateur naturalist found a sandstone cast of a portion of a Devonian-age tree trunk in the Schoharie Creek near Gilboa after a huge flood. The samples were sent to Canada where the specimens were described and illustrated by McGill University paleontolgist John W. Dawson. This was the first documented discovery of fossil tree stumps in North America. " - Gilboa Museum

 

0794490f1e11e4ce9268c963696dc1b5.thumb.jpg.a7a0a79c6d824bf24ef47b496702b4de.jpg

One of the fossils at the Gilboa History Museum is displayed upside down so that its root system and impressions of the nearby forest floor can be seen. here

Wattieza - Wikipedia

 

 

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Carl Regular Member

Carl

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15 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Hey Dom,

 

The first one definitely looks like a cross section of a fish spine. Very cool for that area.

Not sure fish have previously been found there. 

 

The second item is plant, a rachis or branch of something. Not sure what the options are, other than Eospermatopteris,  (trunks and branches) and Wattezia (leaves and branches). 

 

That spine may be scientifically important for that area.

Maybe @Carl can have Dr. John Maisey have a look at it. 

 

Regards,

 

 

I also wonder if @fossilcrazy might have any thoughts on these. 

Good idea! My first thought was fish spine, too. Stand by.

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fossilcrazy Regular Member

fossilcrazy

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Dom's fossil looks to be an Acanthodian dorsal spine. Doesn't look to be Gyracanthus or Machaeracanthus. I can't name the exact Fish. I'll see if I can reference research this one.

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Dsailor Regular Member

Dsailor

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10 hours ago, Carl said:

Good idea! My first thought was fish spine, too. Stand by.

Thanks Carl, I look forward to seeing what insight you can give.

 

-Dom

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Carl Regular Member

Carl

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The word from Dr. Maisey: 

From what little is left of the vascular canals, this looks like bit of a 'ctenacanth' fin spine. There's only one surface preserved though, not even the full thickness of the fin spine wall. The buried side probably has ornament, but can't tell without preparation.

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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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Thanks for the input, Carl. :)

 

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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Dsailor Regular Member

Dsailor

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After emailing with Carl and Dr. Maisey, I have decided to donate the fossil to the American Museum of Natural History. I am really excited to have this opportunity. Big thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Dom

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ynot Regular Member

ynot

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1 hour ago, Dsailor said:

After emailing with Carl and Dr. Maisey, I have decided to donate the fossil to the American Museum of Natural History. I am really excited to have this opportunity. Big thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Dom

:thumbsu::goodjob:

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Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

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Jeffrey P Regular Member

Jeffrey P

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Congratulations on your find and donation. That armored fish spine definitely needs more professional study.

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ynot Regular Member

ynot

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12 hours ago, Dsailor said:

After emailing with Carl and Dr. Maisey, I have decided to donate the fossil to the American Museum of Natural History. I am really excited to have this opportunity. Big thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Dom

You should post this in "partners in paleontology" section and collect Your badge!

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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fifbrindacier Regular Member

fifbrindacier

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On 2/8/2017 at 9:07 PM, Dsailor said:

After emailing with Carl and Dr. Maisey, I have decided to donate the fossil to the American Museum of Natural History. I am really excited to have this opportunity. Big thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Dom

Great donation Dom 

:goodjob::goodjob:

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"We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes."

 

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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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Way to go, Dom!   :fistbump:
Congratulations!

It's official! :) 

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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