Poterioceras Or Conularid?

[Roger]

While collecting in the Finis Shale (Pennsylvanian) near Jacksboro, TX, I came across this interesting piece. When I looked at it in the field I thought that it was a short stubby Conularid but when I cleaned it up and looked at more closely (ie under the magnifying lite) it did not have the proper appearance of a Conularia. I did some research and in "Pennsylvania Fossils of North Texas" (McKinzie andMcLeod) published by the Dallas Paleo Society, I came across the picture and description of a cephalopod called Poterioceras which looked a lot like the fossil I have (general size, shape, growth lines and, of course, location).

So I put it to you - what do you think?

this image gives the size - scale: x-axis = inches y axis = mm

This image shows the growth lines

Finally this image taken on end shows the slight curvature from top to bottom (sorry depth of field went with the close up)

Thanks

[jkfoam]

Roger,

I can see why you initially thought it was a Conularid and I agree that it is not. I think it may well be a Nautiloid and could very well be Poterioceras sp. I am just not that familiar with Nautiloids. My book calls Poterioceras a short stout nautiloid.

JKFoam

[Roger]

Roger,

I can see why you initially thought it was a Conularid and I agree that it is not. I think it may well be a Nautiloid and could very well be Poterioceras sp. I am just not that familiar with Nautiloids. My book calls Poterioceras a short stout nautiloid.

JKFoam

Thanks - JK - I have an email out to Mark McKinzie (one of the authors of the book I referenced) and I believe that he'll be able to tie down the ID once he replies. He's an oil geologist and works off shore quite a bit. I'll keep you informed when he gets back to me.

btw - <My book calls Poterioceras a short stout nautiloid> I don't know why the people that name things don't have some fun once in a while . for example rather than "Poterioceras" how about "Teapotoceras" - after all it is short and stout!!!

Roger

[jkfoam]

Roger,

I have known a couple of Taxonomist in the past and they were generally as fun loving a group as you would ever want to meet. But, I have to tell you none of them would ever dream of taking liberties with a Genus name. Now the species name is another matter. How about "Poterioceras teapotii".

JKFoam