JohnJ Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 It's a new year and a fresh start for many fossil hunters. Carefully read the rules below and submit your fantastic finds! Please remember that we recently introduced another qualification to the current rules. Make a note of Rule #5: Before and After Preparation photos must be submitted for Prepped specimens not found during the Month of the Contest. In addition to keeping the contest fair, this new qualification will encourage better documentation of our spectacular past finds. Best of luck to all and good hunting! Entries will be taken through January 31st. Please let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for sharing more of your fossils and research this month.To view the Winning Fossils from past contests visit the Find Of The Month Winner's Gallery.____________________________________________________________________________________Rules for The Fossil Forum's Vertebrate and Invertebrate/Plant Find of the Month Contests1. You find a great Vertebrate Fossil or Invertebrate/Plant Fossil! Only fossils found by you.2. Post your entry in the Find of the Month topic. Use a separate post for each entry.3. Your Fossil must have been found during the Month of the Contest, or significant Preparation of your Fossil must have been completed during the Month of the Contest.4. You must include the Date of your Discovery or the Date of Preparation Completion. 5. Before and After Preparation photos must be submitted for Prepped specimens not found during the Month of the Contest.6. You must include the common or scientific name.7. You must include the Geologic Age or Geologic Formation where the Fossil was found.8. Play fair and honest. No bought fossils. No false claims.Shortly after the end of the Month, separate Polls will be created for the Vertebrate and Invertebrate/Plant Find of the Month.In addition to the fun of a contest, we also want to learn more about the fossils. So, only entries posted with a CLEAR photo and that meet the other guidelines will be placed into the Poll.Within a few days, we will know the two winning Finds of the Month! Now, go find your fossil, do your research, and make an entry! The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) Hi everyone! My first try at this contest My nominee for the vertebrate fossil of the month is a partly preserved skull of an unknown osteichthyan fish, maybe a Lungfish (Dipnoi)..I´ve found this cool fossil on January 5th in the Eifel-Hills, Germany. Its age is Middle Devonian, Givetian. Size of specimen is about 7 cm wide and about 7 cm long. A: view from above on the skull, B: angular view on the front, C: view on the palatal region with showing some teeth, D: angular view on the palatal region Nils I added two more images:The first shows the cleaned, unprepared nodule. The drawings on the surface mark the suspected position.The second picture shows the cracked nodule before preparation. Edited January 14, 2014 by nils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyc Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 This is my first attempt at VFOTM! I found this plate of glyptodon osteoderms on January 10, 2014. This is a surface find from a gravel bar on the Brazos River in SE Texas. It is pleistocene in age. This plate measures 17.8cm by 14cm and contains 14 complete or nearly complete osteoderms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) Well, the vertebrate side of this contest is looking great so far! I guess I will start it off for the inverts. This is the nearly 12" long (29.5 cm) Isotelus maximus trilobite I finished preparing early in the month. It is from the Late Ordovician Georgian Bay Formation. I already posted the story of it's discovery and prep here: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/43260-isotelus-the-big-one/ Here are some photos of the trilobite, including one at the time of discovery in the field and one of the negative impression which I also saved and repaired. Edited January 13, 2014 by TMNH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 January's gunna be a good one.. "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" - Saint Augustine"Those who can not see past their own nose deserve our pity more than anything else." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Here in Wisconsin winter time is prep time. This is a cephalopod I found in Sept. of 2012 and just now had prepped. This specimen is fully inflated with the living chamber preserved. Westonoceras minnesotense (Clark, 1897) Cephalopod Galena Formation, Prosser member Upper Ordovician Southeast Minnesota Found: Sept. 9 2012 Prep completed: Jan. 12 2014 As found: Prepped free-standing Front: Right side: Left side: Edited January 21, 2014 by Caleb Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) I found this Penguin Humerus (upper flipper bone) last month while on a trip to New Zealand. I finished prepping it this week. Penguin Humerus (undetermined genus) Otekaike Limestone Late Oligocene South Island New Zealand Found December 2013 Prep completed 12th January 2014 Some background information: Here's an image to show you where this bone is placed in the flipper: This was probably quite a large penguin. Here's a picture comparing the penguin humerus fragment I found with a complete example from a Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) Edited January 14, 2014 by Doctor Mud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 January's gunna be a good one.. It's going to be a tough one... "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adron Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) hello everyone, The year starts very good for me. Yesterday I found an ultra rare tooth in my matrix of Antwerp. It's the most spectacular tooth in my collection up to now. Oxynotus centrina found in Antwerp, Belgium Pliocene age size: 0.5 cm date: 18th January Only a few teeth were found there, I'm one of the lucky ones greetings Aaron Edited January 19, 2014 by Adron Nullus finis longius si quod facis delectaris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyrannosaurusRex Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) Well this REALLY is going to be a great month. Here is my find: Ammonite (unknown species) found 1/11/14 Found in Rankin Tx. It is 1 cm measured from top to bottom Edited January 19, 2014 by TyrannosaurusRex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) Here is a Pulalius vulgaris crab from the Lincoln Creek Formation, 30 MYO, showing its ventral side. I found it in October, 2011 in a stream bed and it was originally the size of a bowling ball but water had eroded the top 2/3 away, including the top carapace, one of the claws, and portions of the side legs. When I broke it open, I found only an large intact claw. Because it was difficult, I was hesitant to prep it at the time and put it away until now and was completed on Jan 17. You can see traces of pyrite on the abdomen. Edited January 22, 2014 by bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarleysGh0st Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 That's awesome, Bruce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt cable Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Beautiful prep job, Bruce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilcrazy Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Here is a Pulalius vulgaris crab from the Lincoln Creek Formation, 30 MYO, showing its ventral side. I found it in October, 2011 in a stream bed and it was originally the size of a bowling ball but water had eroded the top 2/3 away, including the top carapace, one of the claws, and portions of the side legs. When I broke it open, I found only an large intact claw. Because it was difficult, I was hesitant to prep it at the time and put it away until now. You can see traces of pyrite on the abdomen. I just feel like giving your crab a "high five". Definitely a different pose from other prepped Lincoln Creek crabs. I didn't realize the time and patience it takes to prep those crab nodules until I tried it; and that was with just one side exposed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilForKids Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I guess my fully rooted baby Desmostylus found January 9 th in Bakersfield in the Round Mountain silt is my entry. It is rare beautiful a nd miraculously intact. If only my teeth are so prized a million years from now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 The crab is a work of art!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilForKids Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I wanted to add this picture of the crown If only my teeth are so prized a million years from now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowsharks Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Here is a Pulalius vulgaris crab from the Lincoln Creek Formation, 30 MYO, showing its ventral side. I found it in October, 2011 in a stream bed and it was originally the size of a bowling ball but water had eroded the top 2/3 away, including the top carapace, one of the claws, and portions of the side legs. When I broke it open, I found only an large intact claw. Because it was difficult, I was hesitant to prep it at the time and put it away until now and was completed on Jan 17. You can see traces of pyrite on the abdomen. Wow. I can't imagine how difficult it was to prep around the claw and legs. Awesome job and specimen for your collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 hello everyone, The year starts very good for me. Yesterday I found an ultra rare tooth in my matrix of Antwerp. It's the most spectacular tooth in my collection up to now. Oxynotus centrina found in Antwerp, Belgium Pliocene age size: 0.5 cm date: 18th January Only a few teeth were found there, I'm one of the lucky ones greetings Aaron DSC_0416.JPGDSC_0418.JPG Most folks won't appreciate how rare and the great condition of your tooth. I would have been extremely happy finding that tooth. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I wanted to add this picture of the crown John Awesome tooth! I heard your yells of joy when you found it all the way in Virginia. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokiehunter Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Are you kidding me? I'm supposed to actually choose one of these and Busyeagle hasn't even submitted his rostrum yet? Ugh!!! Great stuff to all that have submitted. In my opinion you've collectively made this one of the hardest decisions this contest has ever had to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espeton Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Lower Isurus Hastalis found in the East quarry in Sharktooth Hill (California) this Sunday January 19th. The size is 3.25 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Fantastic fossils here, it's gonna be a thrill this time! Luckily there is no loser in this contest, everyone already got his personal FOTM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Fantastic fossils here, it's gonna be a thrill this time! Luckily there is no loser in this contest, everyone already got his personal FOTM. You bet ya! That's the spirit! Great to have a fossil to be proud of and share it with like minded people. FOTM kudos would always be fun though too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokiehunter Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Lower Isurus Hastalis found in the East quarry in Sharktooth Hill (California) this Sunday January 19th. The size is 3.25 inches. WOW!!!!!!!!!!! That is one of the nicest Hastalis lowers I have ever seen. Incredible find and welcome to the 3" Mako club. This month is just straight ridiculous in terms of the rarity and quality of the fossils that have been found. Can't wait to see what else pops up. Still a few more days though at this point I might have to slow my prep down if I found something FOTM worthy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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