Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 (edited) This was found in Cayuga Ontario (Devonian) in 1988 and is still marked in my collection as an unknown. I have had a number of suggestions over the years as to what it is but nothing that screams that's it for sure. I always thought that it was echinoderm of some type but others have suggested eurypterid. Any thoughts. It was found at surface level of an abandoned water filled quarry so there is no assurance that it actually originated at that quarry but it probably did as it looked like the same matrix as the surrounding rock. Please jump in with your thoughts... I would really like to figure out what it is as I have nothing else that remotely looks like this Edited August 24, 2019 by Malcolmt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 My first impression is that of a Pterygotus claw. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanrique Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 11 minutes ago, Ludwigia said: My first impression is that of a Pterygotus claw. It honestly does look like pterygotusPterygotus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 A close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 On of the suggestions over the years has been pterygotis claw along with fish jaw. They look like spikes not teeth but the pores are somewhat confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 12 minutes ago, Malcolmt said: They look like spikes not teeth but the pores are somewhat confusing They're not teeth on Pterygotus, but rather barbs. I've seen photos of them with and without serrations and there are more of them than you have on yours, but some appear to be missing. Anyway, I'm just trying an educated guess. Maybe the guys at Lang's quarry could help you out, or have you already tried them? Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 I just received an interesting suggestion that this is part of the center two pygidial spines of a Terataspis grandis. When you look at pictures it could very well be 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 The highlighted area shows the distinct continuous crescent-shaped margin. You and Kane can should start a "Show us your Terataspis" thread! fig. 99 from: Thomas, A.T., Holloway, D.J., 1988. Classification and Phylogeny of the Trilobite Order Lichida. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences, 321:179-262 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Welcome to the Terataspis club, Malcolm! 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 I would assume this is a ventral specimen due to the absence of the typical coarse tubercles found on the dorsal exoskeleton. The attached comparative figure is from Hall & Clarke 1888: Hall, J. & Clarke, J.M. 1888 Palaeontology VII. Containing descriptions and figures of the trilobites and other crustacea of the Oriskany, upper Helderberg, Hamilton, Portage, Chemung and Catskill Groups. Geological Survey of New York, Natural History of New York, Palaeontology: Volume 7:1-236 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 You can see some tubercules in the pic... I am not inclined to thin out the back at all to see some of the other side at this point in time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 39 minutes ago, Kane said: Welcome to the Terataspis club, Malcolm! Can't be too elite if they let me and you in.... apparently I was there 31 years ago just too dumb to know it....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 I think Scott has nailed it once again. That was one big trilobite! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 Not that I do not appreciate Scott totally for his analysis and identification but the first person to make the suggestion of Terataspis was Steve Pavelsky in the Face Book Crinoid and echinoderms Group. Frankly I had never given trilobite a 2nd thought. I always thought it was echinoderm or pterygotid. As far as I knew people just don't even find tiny bits of Terataspis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Well how 'bout that! 2 of these things in one week thanks to Scott! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 @Kane and @Malcolmt, I hate you both so much right now... this is my dream find. I have been researching where to come across these for a while now. I have been hunting down resources from 100 years ago to try and figure out where to find them. (That I can get to.) 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...
Malcolmt Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 Jay, For the last 31 years you could have found one at my house 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson g Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 16 hours ago, Malcolmt said: Not that I do not appreciate Scott totally for his analysis and identification but the first person to make the suggestion of Terataspis was Steve Pavelsky in the Face Book Crinoid and echinoderms Group. Frankly I had never given trilobite a 2nd thought. I always thought it was echinoderm or pterygotid. As far as I knew people just don't even find tiny bits of Terataspis Have they ever found complete specimens before? I'd assume not, but anyway wow is that a pretty nice find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 Just now, Jackson g said: Have they ever found complete specimens before? I'd assume not, but anyway wow is that a pretty nice find! There are rumoured to be two held in private collections. 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson g Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 17 minutes ago, Kane said: There are rumoured to be two held in private collections. Figures as much, too bad no museum has one to display. Would be nice to see a real complete example one day though! 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