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Jim K

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Hello, I just recently joined the group and I am hoping for some help on this fossil. Other than the photos, I can't offer any information on it. About 20 years ago I was at an estate sale, in an old home, and spotted a rock up on the foundation in the basement. Upon retrieving it and blowing off the layers of dust and dirt, I found this fossil. I asked if it was for sale, and bought it for a dollar. The texture on the fossil has caused my imagination to wander, but I have no idea what it might be or where it came from. Any information is much appreciated. Thanks.

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Welcome to the forum!

 

i can’t help in your ID but it looks pretty interesting. Someone will be along soon with an ID. Best I can do is say with a little confidence is that it’s fauna rather than flora. Looks cool whatever it is. :)

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Reminds me of a paleozoic shark tooth? Although I'm not sure I've ever seen one in a nodule like that.

 

My other thought was some kind of arthropod exoskeleton

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Crab was my first thought, so I agree with the above statement.

" We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. "

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I think there is more of the crab in the rock, and it would benefit from a professional preparation.

Nice find, especially for such a low price.

 

Maybe one of TFF's crab experts can identify where it came from.

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I believe this is just a single crab claw a concretion. 

~Charlie~

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK
->Get your Mosasaur print
->How to spot a fake Trilobite
->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG

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9 minutes ago, fossilized6s said:

I believe this is just a single crab claw a concretion. 

 

 

This is not a claw, it's a raninid carapace.

 

 

image.png.a84de26dad44fb03836a743755df237c.png

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29 minutes ago, piranha said:

 

 

This is not a claw, it's a raninid carapace.

 

 

_01F0551.thumb.jpg.cb204c9b15bdb0e6971af2725a07f535_1511482790934.png.92fa9a53af3b06c256731211971201ae.png

 

This was the part that was throwing me off. That, and the heavily pitted texture.  I don't have one of these to reference and can't find anything on Google. Do these crabs have a line of spikes going down the sides of the carapace? 

~Charlie~

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK
->Get your Mosasaur print
->How to spot a fake Trilobite
->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG

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1 hour ago, fossilized6s said:

_01F0551.thumb.jpg.cb204c9b15bdb0e6971af2725a07f535_1511482790934.png.92fa9a53af3b06c256731211971201ae.png

...Do these crabs have a line of spikes going down the sides of the carapace?...

 

 

Yes, some species have this morphology.  Here is a modern analog for comparison:

 

IMG.jpg.0dc837046ed3afaeb125716f5d0adf03.jpg

image.png.a84de26dad44fb03836a743755df237c.png

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piranha hit this one right on the nail head.  If there is enouph rock underneath, it may have some leg and there could be claws, but usually, when I find these, they are moslty just the carapace.

 

 

RB

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Welcome to The Fossil Forum!  Ah...it's just an old, dead crab.  Have you ever smelled a dead crab that has been sitting around for a while?  They really STINK!  I think you need to sell it to me for $2 (double your money) and I'll even pay the shipping to Texas! :D  Just kidding, of course!

 

Nice find!  I'm going to have to start hitting estate sales more often!

 

-Joe

Illigitimati non carborundum

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Thanks to everyone for your response. It's nice to finally know what it is. Who says there is nothing to be found in the glaciated parts of Wisconsin :). Thanks again!

 

Jim

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Wisconsin? You should find all kinds of fossils up that way. Definitely a crab shell. I found most of mine in PA and Ohio.

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