Staten Island shell fossil ID

[njcreekhunter]

Hey everyone, many years ago my dad found these shell fossils on a beach in Staten Island New York. I was wondering if any of you shell experts would be able to identify them. Thank you!

 

-Mike

[Fossildude19]

First one appears to be a Strophomenid  brachiopod. 

Second one has a few different types, but I cannot make out what they are. 

@Shamalama

[abyssunder]

The first one looks like a Leptaena sp. fragment, but I'm not familiar with the region.

[Jeffrey P]

The first one looks like Leptaena, a brachiopod. The other rock contains brachiopod fragments and a more complete Strophomerid, possibly Strophonella. The rocks are likely Lower Devonian in age  or possibly Silurian- between 400 and 430 million years old. Rocks like that were brought down by the great ice sheet that once reached as far south as New York harbor. They likely originated in bedrock somewhere in Upstate New York. 

[Fossildude19]

Jeff and abyssunder  are right, after  a closer look at the first one, I can see the wrinkles that mark it as a Leptaena .

And Jeff is more knowledgeable about brachiopods than I.

Good call, Gents. 

[erose]

Doesn't look like "glacial" outwash.  More likely brought down and dumped as rip rap from the Hudson Valley. 

 

Also, although Leptaena is a good guess I believe this is a different genus. 

[Shamalama]

I agree with @erose on both points. I think this was imported material as fill and the Strophomenid type shell is another genus. The wrinkled surface does resemble Leptanea but that genus' shell has more regular wrinkles all along the top surface of the shell and then a 90 degree turn at the leading edge.  If you are able to see that hard edge then I would be more comfortable with Leptanea as the ID. The other shells are too fragmentary or lack enough detail for me to make a guess at ID.

 

But I do agree with @Jeffrey P that the rock and fossils are likely lower Devonian aged. They appear to be a limestone like rock and very few formations in Eastern PA, North NJ or Eastern NY are limestone except for the lower Devonian. Later in the period the rocks grade into shale and sandstone as the Catskill delta advanced and earlier rocks are either not exposed or are also shale or sandstone.

[Fossildude19]

          

[njcreekhunter]

@Fossildude19@abyssunder@Jeffrey P@erose@Shamalama Thanks so much for the ID help! and thanks @Fossildude19 for editing the pics!

[Fossildude19]

1 hour ago, sharktoothboy said:

@Fossildude19@abyssunder@Jeffrey P@erose@Shamalama Thanks so much for the ID help! and thanks @Fossildude19 for editing the pics!

No problem. 

It's easier to ID them (well, for me, at least) when they are pictured from directly above, with the hinge at the top.