Tiny Oddity

[Hipockets]

I have this echinolampas appendiculata from the eocene , Castle Hayne Form., of North Carolina that has a strange tiny ( 4 mm dia.) critter riding along. It has tubercles like an echinoid, but in some ways looks like a barnacle  or maybe sponge ? Any ideas ?  Thanks 

[Peat Burns]

Perhaps the remnants of a barnacle (With some boring sponge cavities?)

[Rockwood]

Coral that died young ?

[Ludwigia]

Some kind of crinoid holdfast? Not so sure about that though.

[Al Dente]

It’s a bryozoan but unfortunately I don’t remember the name and all my references are packed up in boxes (new carpeting being installed). It is a common one and is in the NC Fossil Club volume one publication. I can give you a name tomorrow.

[Rockwood]

We should have taken the title more seriously. It does become obvious once you do that.

[caldigger]

Echinoid acne?

[Al Dente]

Our fossil club book identifies this as Disporella sp. Here's a photo from the book (North Carolina Fossil Club Fossil Invertebrates and Plants volume 1) and one from the internet of a modern species.

 

 

[Plax]

so are the other round things on the test spots where bryozoan are broken off? Have seen lots of those which I thought were oyster spat but never noticed the bryozoan. You're good Al!

[Al Dente]

15 minutes ago, Plax said:

so are the other round things on the test spots where bryozoan are broken off? Have seen lots of those which I thought were oyster spat but never noticed the bryozoan. You're good Al!

I'm pretty sure they are oyster spat. 

[Hipockets]

Thanks Eric.....I always neglect the bryozoans.

[RJB]

Tiny but interesting.   Also got a good laugh about it being echinoid acne! 

 

RB