Jump to content

Caryocaris--An Ordovician Bi-Valved Crustacean


Virgilian

Recommended Posts

On occasion, a  paleo-pen pal emails me a few images of unusual material (I would consider most of what's sent "unusual," anyhow) he's pulled out of various places.

 

Latest example is in the photograph, below. It's a slab of shale from a lower Ordovician section of the Palmetto Formation, Nevada, that contains carapaces (original phosphatic shell substance preserved intact, by the way) of the curious, extinct, bi-valved phyllocarid crustacean called Caryocaris. The critter seems restricted worldwide to strata of early to mid Ordovician geologic age (a handful of examples assigned to the Silurian are apparently problematic)--sometimes occurring in "graptolitic shale facies."

 

I'd never even heard of these things until I received this image. Had to do some research, indeed. Not something most folks see everyday, I'm thinking.

 

caryocaris.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a fine slab! I hadn't realised they were restricted to the Ordovician.

 

This is the only specimen I've found, from the Lower Ordovician Skiddaw Slates of the English Lake District, near Keswick. These are rather metamorphosed so not that well preserved.

They occur along with Tetragraptus and other graptolites.

 

IMG_2321.thumb.jpg.9615437987c30a941e624161fb4f090d.jpg

 

 

 

 

Tarquin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Phyllocarids are indeed interesting creatures.

That Caryocaris  slab is really nice. 

 

I've found two types of phyllocarids in the Devonian Hamilton Group of New York. Haven't found any in the Ordovician areas I have hunted. 

Thanks for the post.

Regards,

    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      

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...