Purisima Fm id

[Kkoz]

Need Id on Unknown piece from the purisima fm. Capitola, CA. Miocene- Pliocene. Texture looks similar to turtle/ alligator scutes to me. Thanks

[Miocene_Mason]

I don’t see any identifiable features. I’d call it a chunkosaurus.

[Carl]

That's very weird. The only think that comes to mind is one of the heavy osteoderms from the back of a sturgeon. The Purisima would be a weird spot for that, I'd think. @Boesse

[Rockwood]

It does appear to be a nearly complete unit, whatever it is. 

[Boesse]

Yes indeed! There's an unnamed species of Acipenser with unusually thick osteoderms. This belongs to that species.

[siteseer]

1 hour ago, Boesse said:

Yes indeed! There's an unnamed species of Acipenser with unusually thick osteoderms. This belongs to that species.

 

 

Hi Bobby,

 

I've seen a specimen like that from the Kettlman Hills as well (San Joaquin Formation).

 

Jess

[Boesse]

Yes - there are several specimens at UCMP from the San Joaquin and perhaps Etchegoin Fm., which share a number of taxa in common with the Purisima; the Santa Cruz section of the Purisima was deposited at the mouth of the San Joaquin embayment during the Pliocene, so there's an interesting biogeographic story to be told once somebody works it up.