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Possible Ordovician Annelid Fossil?


ntloux

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I recently acquired a Daedalocrinus bellevillensis crinoid fossil plate from the Bobcaygeon formation of Brechin, Ontario.  At the bottom of the plate is what appears to be an annelid worm fossil.  It is segmented but the segmentation is nothing like the segmentation of any crinoid stems I have seen and is more similar in appearance to a modern earthworm; it also terminates with a point.

 

It also has occurred to me that this might be a frond from a crinoid but I don't know what the terminations look like.  Would anyone have any suggestions as to how I might identify this fossil?

 

The picture doesn't do justice to it but the item of interest is the item crossing the crinoid stem.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

Crinoid.jpg

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Both are crinoid stems. A soft bodied annelid worm would not preserve as such a 3D structure. It would preserve as a very flat structure. If the crinoid stem is calcite, I bet what you think is a worm is also calcite and will fizz in acid. Test the “worm” with acid.

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What part of the crinoid would it be? If the stalk then clearly it appears to be a different variety. 

Interesting piece though. I can see why you’d think annelid. It looks tape worm like.

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Welcome to TFF from Austria!

 

Strange and very interesting piece, thanks for sharing!

Are you able to provide detailed pics of the marked areas?

Escpecially of the middle one in side view (I like how it bends over the crinoid stem) and the lower one with oblique lightning to highlight the segmentation.

image.jpeg.a7ca9011fbb69ccf0d6d91ad7b8604eb.jpeg

 

10 hours ago, ntloux said:

it also terminates with a point.

Would you also be able to provide pics of both terminations?

 

Edit: Mystery already solved by the master of this specimen :)!

 

Thanks so much!

Franz Bernhard

Edited by FranzBernhard
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+1 for crinoid stem.

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Having collected the area for years, I see it as a crinoid stem from a different species. There are many species from this now "off-limits" area and in some, the segmentation changes as you get further from the calyx.

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Having been the individual that prepped the piece, I can assure you that you have crinoid stems on the slab.  I am sure I would not have sold it if it had an annelid.  

Recently, I have discovered that these slabs can contain quite a number of scolecodonts (worm jaws).  Not saying that this one does, but I have seen quite a few now that someone has pointed them out to me.

Joe

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Agree with Joe, from that locality it would be a crinoid stem from another species. I am only aware of one type of anelid being found in that formation and it does not look like that. I have seen some scolecodonts in matrix from this area.

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