Paleocene Shark, Ray, Fish, And Other Micros From The Aquia Formation Of Virginia

[MarcoSr]

I collected these specimens from matrix from the Paleocene Aquia Formation Zone 4 of Virginia. The matrix was sand based and broke down very easily by washing it in a .4mm sieve using a water hose. I found a large number of fish fossils including several jaws, numerous teeth, fin spines and vertebrae. I also found shark teeth, a shark fin spine and multiple shark vertebrae and numerous ray teeth. I also found some specimens that I still need id help with. I’m posting the nicer and more unusual micros which I found. If you place your cursor on a JPEG image you will see the file name which will have the specimen id as best that I can determine and the specimen size. If you can identify the specimens further please do so. Each matrix that I search makes me more of an avid micro tooth collector. If anyone has or can collect good matrix with shark, ray, and fish micros please send me a PM.

Below are some of the shark teeth, a shark fin spine and a shark vertebra which I found in the matrix:

Continued in the next reply.

Marco Sr.

Edited October 22, 2015 by MarcoSr

[MarcoSr]

Shark specimens continued:

Below are some of the ray teeth which I found in the matrix:

Below are two fish jaws, some of the fish teeth and several fish vertebrae which I found:

Continued in the next reply.

Marco Sr.

Edited October 1, 2013 by MarcoSr

[MarcoSr]

Below are some specimens that I still need id help with. I found almost 80 of these. I posted these same specimens earlier in an id post. I was informed from that post that they are not Ostracodes or Foraminifers and may be plant/algae fruits/seeds.

The below specimens all have the same surface pattern, ridges and all have a uniform opening.

Marco Sr.

Edited October 1, 2013 by MarcoSr

[cowsharks]

My favorite is the Pachygaleus lefevrei symphyseal looking tooth. That odd/patho looking squalus is neat too. Do you find any Otoliths in that matrix?

Daryl.

[obsessed1]

Excellent specimens! I have always been fond of the squalus. How much material did you go through to find that many nice teeth?

[MarcoSr]

My favorite is the Pachygaleus lefevrei symphyseal looking tooth. That odd/patho looking squalus is neat too. Do you find any Otoliths in that matrix?

Daryl.

Daryl

That odd squalus is my favorite. No Otoliths. I was hoping for some especially with all the fish teeth and vertebrae in the matrix.

Marco Sr.

[MarcoSr]

Excellent specimens! I have always been fond of the squalus. How much material did you go through to find that many nice teeth?

Mel and I partially washed down about 3 wheelbarrows of raw matrix at the site. We brought out three 5 gallon buckets. At home I washed the matrix really well and sifted out the larger material (shells) using a 1/4 inch sift. There wasn't anything in the larger material. I wound up with around five gallons of matrix to search that was shell fragments and fossils. I probably found over a thousand shark, ray and fish fossils.

Marco Sr.

[John Hamilton]

Great finds as always Marco!

[Ridgehiker]

Super stuff. Really enjoy these.

Easy to get excited with each scoop of material under the microscope. Who knows what little beastie might there.

Is this a marine/ freshwater transitional zone?

Just a note...none of the info shows for me on my IPad. If anyone has more experience on an IPad, is there a way of seeing the info on each image?

[Auspex]

...none of the info shows for me on my IPad. If anyone has more experience on an IPad, is there a way of seeing the info on each image?

Is your Flash Player up to date?

[MarcoSr]

Is this a marine/ freshwater transitional zone?

The depositional environment was a near shore (one to ten miles offshore) shallow marine zone.

Marco Sr.

[Plax]

Below are some specimens that I still need id help with. I found almost 80 of these. I posted these same specimens earlier in an id post. I was informed from that post that they are not Ostracodes or Foraminifers and may be plant/algae fruits/seeds.

Unknown1 2.5mm.jpgUnknown2 4mm.jpgUnknown3 3mm.jpgUnknown4 3mm.jpg

The below specimens all have the same surface pattern, ridges and all have a uniform opening.

Unknown5 2mm.jpgUnknown6 2mm.jpgUnknown7 2mm.jpgUnknown8 1.5mm.jpg

Marco Sr.

The hollow ones have an echinoderm look about them

[MarcoSr]

The hollow ones have an echinoderm look about them

I've been looking at a lot of images of fossil echinoderms on the web but can't find a close match but that's probably because I'm mostly seeing just star fish, sea urchins, sand dollars etc. Can you point to any images that might be close?

Marco Sr.

[Gizmo]

Great Post and Pics! - G

[flyersfan805]

Very nice Macro, I love the photo's.

[Katfish61]

These are some great finds and good job on the photos. I am working on a couple of buckets brought back from the creek. I stay up way too late working on going through it with a strong pair of glasses and a headlamp.

YES.....My name is Kathy and I am addicted to micros.

[MakoMeCrazy]

Sweet micros. Really nice photos!

[Plax]

I've been looking at a lot of images of fossil echinoderms on the web but can't find a close match but that's probably because I'm mostly seeing just star fish, sea urchins, sand dollars etc. Can you point to any images that might be close?

Marco Sr.

am thinking comatulids, microcrinoids? no pics

[MarcoSr]

am thinking comatulids, microcrinoids? no pics

I didn't realize that crinoids survived to modern times with both the sea lilies and the feather stars until I just did some web research. So they were definitely in the Paleocene. Almost everything I see on sea lilies and feather stars on the web are photos or drawings of complete modern specimens. Hopefully someone here on TFF has access to some pictures of feather star (comatulid) fossils and can post them or a link so we can compare them to my specimens.

Marco Sr.

[jcbshark]

Very nice specimens Marco sr, awesome variety

[Otodusobliquus]

Wow! Those are some great finds! That pathological Squalus is pretty cool.

( I am very jealous!!!!!!)

[MarcoSr]

Wow! Those are some great finds! That pathological Squalus is pretty cool.

( I am very jealous!!!!!!)

The Squalus isn't really pathological. The heavily serrate Squalus from the Aquia Formation have features which are different from the described Squalus minor or Megasqualus orpiensis. In my opinion, the Squalus from the Aquia Formation need to be reevaluated as I don't feel that they are currently accurately described.

Marco Sr.

[Otodusobliquus]

The entire formation needs to be reevaluated and studied. Who knows how many undescribed species are still undiscovered.

[Al Dente]

The Squalus isn't really pathological. The heavily serrate Squalus from the Aquia Formation have features which are different from the described Squalus minor or Megasqualus orpiensis. In my opinion, the Squalus from the Aquia Formation need to be reevaluated as I don't feel that they are currently accurately described.

Marco Sr.

I have a heavily serrated Squalus from the Aquia. I picked this out of a bucket of pure formation. Very few teeth but this was a nice find.

[Otodusobliquus]

That is an amazing tooth!