Billymacdaddy Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Hi everyone, Billy Mac again. My family was picking through the Marcellus Shale formation in Tully Ny several years ago. We find trilobites, Cephalopods, bivalves, and lots of Crinoids there. One of the boys found this small fossil that looks like a starfish. The Crinoids typically have a ring around the star shape but this does not. I tried getting some close ups but lacking a macro lens I had a hard time. I hope the pics are ok. The fossil is only about 6mm round. So starfish or Crinoid is my question. Thanks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Looks like Pentacrinus to me. Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billymacdaddy Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 It sure does. So type of Crinoid. Thankyou! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 No problem. When I get home I will try to do a little digging and try to help you get a species. Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 This actually looks more like Devonaster sp. to me. 3 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM - APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Nice Devonaster. for me too. Great find. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billymacdaddy Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Nice! Thanks everybody. Gotta love those comparative pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 The lumen is small enough to pass for a starfish madreporite, but to leave an impression like this it would have to be very robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I am going to be the odd man out and maintain that I do not see Devonaster here. The terminations of the "legs" are nothing like what presents in a starfish. I am still going Pentacrinus on this one, sorry guys :/ 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 The specimen looks to have a curvature, curving arms, at least that's what I'm seeing in the pictures. It may be just an optical illusion, I don't know. I have never seen crinoid columnals with curved facets. " 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. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 And Pentacrinus / Pentacrinites occurs from the Triassic to the Eocene. This is Devonian strata. There are star shaped crinoid stems in the Devonian, but this still looks starfish to me. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 2 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said: And Pentacrinus / Pentacrinites occurs from the Triassic to the Eocene. This is Devonian strata. There are star shaped crinoid stems in the Devonian, but this still looks starfish to me. That's my mistake, I was confused with the name. I know I've found them in the Hamilton, but am having a hard time finding the right match. 2 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, DevonianDigger said: That's my mistake, I was confused with the name. I know I've found them in the Hamilton, but am having a hard time finding the right match. I understand, but you are right in that there are pentameral, star-shaped crinoid stems about at this time, so you may be right. But I still think it's Devonaster ! Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: I understand, but you are right in that there are pentameral, star-shaped crinoid stems about at this time, so you may be right. But I still think it's Devonaster ! I will be the first to jump for joy if it is a Devonaster. I have been looking for one for years! From everything that I've seen they just have a very distinct almost corn-on-the-cob-like appearance. 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Do we have a starfish expert on the forum? This one is going to drive me nuts!!! Maybe @GerryK has an idea. As much as I hate to draw his attention to my misuse of the Pentacrinus name, lol. 1 Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Star shaped crinoid columnals that I find from The Devonian of NY are Thylacocrinus clarkei. Its not a starfish. 4 Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 2 hours ago, mikeymig said: Star shaped crinoid columnals that I find from The Devonian of NY are Thylacocrinus clarkei. Its not a starfish. Thanks for this, Mikey. Looks like you nailed it! I Googled Thylacocrinus clarkei, and came up with this post from the Forum in 2017. I agree, this is the likely ID. Good job! @DevonianDigger 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM - APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 4 hours ago, mikeymig said: Star shaped crinoid columnals that I find from The Devonian of NY are Thylacocrinus clarkei. Can you post an image of one of the Thylacocrinus clarkei columnals you've found, showing its facet, for comparative reason? Thank you. " 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. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 On 4/1/2019 at 2:24 AM, DevonianDigger said: Do we have a starfish expert on the forum? This one is going to drive me nuts!!! Maybe @GerryK has an idea. As much as I hate to draw his attention to my misuse of the Pentacrinus name, lol. Well done, you were right, good call! Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Cropped, enlarged, and contrasted: Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM - APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 On 4/2/2019 at 6:43 PM, abyssunder said: Can you post an image of one of the Thylacocrinus clarkei columnals you've found, showing its facet, for comparative reason? Thank you. Sorry, I just saw this request. 3 Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted April 5, 2019 Share Posted April 5, 2019 3 hours ago, mikeymig said: Sorry, I just saw this request. Very nice pluricolumnals! Now they can be used as reference. Thank you for the picture. " 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. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 (edited) Found this photo one with the "arms" less robust as the specimen in question. It's a crinoid columnal. Edited April 6, 2019 by Mark Kmiecik 2 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now