Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 (edited) I found this fossil on my property at top of Laurelas Grade in Hidden Hills off Carmel Valley Rd. state of Calif. It appears to be some kind of fish. Can anyone give any more information on what this could be? Entire size of rock is approx 6" wide. I have found lots of mollusk type fossils but never a fish. thanks kathleen Edited November 3, 2019 by Kathleen Byrd 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Belly up fish alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 what is that? or are you being funny? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 7 minutes ago, Kathleen Byrd said: what is that? or are you being funny? It's ventral side is up in the photo. That's all I can say about it, but it's a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 I would say that is a really great specimen to be able to find on your property. Congratulations! Welcome to the forum from New York! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, Rockwood said: It's ventral side is up in the photo. That's all I can say about it, but it's a start. so what you are saying is that it was squished from the bellyside..then squished flat. thus the odd placement of the spine..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 3 minutes ago, Darktooth said: I would say that is a really great specimen to be able to find on your property. Congratulations! Welcome to the forum from New York! wow, thanks so much. I'm excited whenever I find fossils on my property. Most of the time I have found them I find them calling out to me... yes, no joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Regarding the specimen I posted above.. the fish fossil in sandstone/ shale. How does one go about finding out the geological time period of such a fossil. I live on the Calif coast so I assume this would have been a period of time wwhen that part of the continent was under water, but then it all was all water at one time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 21 hours ago, Kathleen Byrd said: Regarding the specimen I posted above.. the fish fossil in sandstone/ shale. How does one go about finding out the geological time period of such a fossil. I live on the Calif coast so I assume this would have been a period of time wwhen that part of the continent was under water, but then it all was all water at one time. Without the tail, articulated skull, and fins present, it may be difficult to pin down an exact ID on this fossil fish. I can tell you that it is probably Miocene in age, and possibly from the Monterey Formation. Per Wikipedia: "The Miocene is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about 23.03 to 5.333 million years ago." As far as the posted picture, Rockwood was just saying that it is upside down/oriented wrong. The vertebral column should be near the top of the fish. Correct orientation: 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...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 wow, thanks so much. I love your information. I cherish all the fossils I find but know so little about them. I truly appreciated your information and your lead as to what age it may be from! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 1 minute ago, Kathleen Byrd said: wow, thanks so much. I love your information. I cherish all the fossils I find but know so little about them. I truly appreciated your information and your lead as to what age it may be from! Could you share pics of the other things that you have found? 1 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, Kathleen Byrd said: wow, thanks so much. I love your information. I cherish all the fossils I find but know so little about them. I truly appreciated your information and your lead as to what age it may be from! Happy to help. If you search "Fossil Fishes Monterey Formation PDF", you might get some free literature to download. Be sure to include Goolge Scholar in your searches. 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...
piranha Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 This is the classic monograph: David, L.R. 1943 Miocene Fishes of Southern California. Geological Society of America, Special Paper, 43:1-193 PM sent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 thanks much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Fossildude19 said: upside down/oriented wrong. Actually, for a dead fish it's about right. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 (edited) Here is a sampling of what I typically find.. nothing really spectacular but still rewarding. The first fossil, itself measures 2" across and the second fossil itself measures 3 " Edited November 3, 2019 by Kathleen Byrd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 yep had a hard time deciphering the orientation of the fish; at first I thought it was two superimposed fish. It was a delight to find this. In 20 years I have not found any fish, only mollusk types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 53 minutes ago, Kathleen Byrd said: Here is a sampling of what I typically find.. nothing really spectacular but still rewarding. The first fossil, itself measures 2" across and the second fossil itself measures 3 " Thanks for sharing. Neat finds. I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 23 hours ago, Kathleen Byrd said: Here is a sampling of what I typically find.. nothing really spectacular but still rewarding. I disagree. You think they are nothing special because you find them all the time, whereas others who have nothing like them anywhere close to home may think they are something special. Don't under rate what you find because you find it all the time. 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...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 They are very special to me but to experienced fossil hunters the specimens are most likely nothing great. When I find them I find it a spectacular find. Sorry you misunderstood my comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 On 11/4/2019 at 2:53 PM, Kathleen Byrd said: They are very special to me but to experienced fossil hunters the specimens are most likely nothing great. When I find them I find it a spectacular find. Sorry you misunderstood my comment. Their loss. I believe any fossil you find on your own to be special. 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...
Kathleen Byrd Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 I agree and am in awe when I do have a find. I flipped out when I found my first fossil. I live along the Calif coast at about 1,600 feet above sea level. My home is built on top of a hill and the land is filled with what I call sandstone... its not hard like shale so I assume its sandstone. When I found my first scallop type shell I was in disbelief. It was geology telling me YES, we were underwater here. Until I found an ocean fossil the idea of having built on land that was once underwater was hard to fathom. Anyway that's my story on my fossil finding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Thompson Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Hi Kathleen; I am a research paleontologist with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and the U.C. Berkeley Museum of Paleontology (UCMP). I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Palo Corona Discovery Center and I live in Monterey. The Discovery Center is currently creating an exhibit featuring local fossils. Would you be interested in donating/loaning some of your fossils to them for exhibit? The fish is particularly important. Would you mind giving me a call when you have a chance to talk about your finds (831-535-8545). Wayne. P.S. the fish in the photos here is on display at the Discovery Center and was found not far from you!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Hi, The OP has posted little. I’m calling him to give him a better chance to see your proposal : @Kathleen Byrd Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Thompson Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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