Grayson formation nautiloids- Tarrant County TX

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

I would love to learn from some of you regarding what species of nautiloids these are (maybe multiple species). They’re different than the larger ones I find more often in similar areas and I like the pattern detail visible on some of them. They almost always have a very distinct curve at the outer edge. These are mostly from 2 spots in burleson TX. The unusual nautiloid with lots of details visible and crystallized (looks brown in the photo) on the inside was from a different spot (maybe Fort Worth formation?) where I find mortoniceras ammonites. 

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

I also forgot I had this nautiloid with oysters stuck to it and crystals visible on the back side 

[Ludwigia]

@Uncle Siphuncle ?

[Coco]

Hi,

 

If I can give some advice :

- Take your photos with a contrasting and plain background, here the colours are too close to each other to see well,

- don’t hold your fossils in your hand to take the pictures, it brings nothing but blur,

- and size, size, size! For any request for identification

 

Coco

[Ammonit]

7 hours ago, Shaun-DFW Fossils said:

 

Here we have the genus Cymatoceras and possibly Xenocheilus Excellent finds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

Just now, Ammonit said:

 

Thank you! I will use that info to do more digging (no pun intended)

[Ammonit]

And how common are nautiluses at this location?

Edited December 9, 2023 by Ammonit

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

2 minutes ago, Ammonit said:

And how often do you have nautilus?

They are quite common in the right exposures locally, though completely absent from other areas. Shallow construction projects often unearth them, but they’re completely absent from formations where I find large ammonites. 

[RuMert]

Lots of them there, a rich place

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

On 12/8/2023 at 9:13 PM, Shaun-DFW Fossils said:

I also forgot I had this nautiloid with oysters stuck to it and crystals visible on the back side 

I took the risk of cutting this unique nautiloid that I found under a bridge by a busy highway. I was blown away..especially after my friend Mercer got it polished for me. What a beauty! If anyone has ever seen a Texas nautiloid (other than mine) sliced and looking like this, I want to know. I think this one belongs in my personal collection permanently. Tarrant county, TX, found last Summer. 

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

Here’s one more, this nautiloid simply looked too difficult to clean on the outside (and I have a lot of these) so I decided to slice it. The one I posted yesterday is still my favorite, but this one is alright. Tarrant County TX

[Lone Hunter]

Are you just now getting those back?  That one from yesterday is bad !  I think you have found more nautiloids than everyone in Texas combined.   I think @JamieLynn has nautiloids in her collection might look there for ID.  How are you determining what formation your in?

Edited February 11 by Lone Hunter

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

2 minutes ago, Lone Hunter said:

Are you just now getting those back?  That one from yesterday is bad !  I think you have found more nautiloids than everyone in Texas combined.   I think @JamieLynn has nautiloids in her collection might look there for ID.  How are you determining what formation your in?

I got these back and about 50 conlinoceras yesterday, I just keep looking at them like a kid in a candy shop. lol! Nautiloids (mine are cymatoceras species) were in more shallow environments from what I’ve heard, these are Grayson formation, though I sometimes rarely find them where I find Fort Worth formation mortoniceras ammonites. But more often I am finding nautiloids, echinoids and oysters/scallops together but no ammonites in the same areas

[JamieLynn]

Hi @Shaun-DFW Fossils !
 There are three genera of nautiloids found in our Texas Cretaceous - Eutrophoceras, Cymatoceras and Paracymatoceras.  Cymatoceras have the larger chambers with the wider suture lines and Paracymatoceras have the narrower bands. You  have mostly Cymatoceras but a couple of Paracymatoceras as well.  Eutrophoceras are very very wide at the opening and are only found in upper Cretaceous and not in the same localities as  Cymato and Paracymato. The species can depend on what formation, but most are going to be Cymatoceras hilli. They range from very small to very large. Paracymatoceras texanum is the only species in that branch. Good finds! I'd just die and go to heaven if I found that many nautiloids! 

 

Oh, and PS. the ammonite in your original post is an Oxytropidocers rather than a Mortoniceras. 

[JamieLynn]

corrected a little typo.....Paracymatoceras texanum

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

1 minute ago, JamieLynn said:

Hi @Shaun-DFW Fossils !
 There are three genera of nautiloids found in our Texas Cretaceous - Eutrophoceras, Cymatoceras and Paracymatoceras.  Cymatoceras have the larger chambers with the wider suture lines and Paracymatoceras have the narrower bands. You  have mostly Cymatoceras but a couple of Paracymatoceras as well.  Eutrophoceras are very very wide at the opening and are only found in upper Cretaceous and not in the same localities as  Cymato and Paracymato. The species can depend on what formation, but most are going to be Cymatoceras hilli. They range from very small to very large. Cymatoceras texanum is the only species in that branch. Good finds! I'd just die and go to heaven if I found that many nautiloids! 

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, that’s helpful! I have a few smaller nautiloids that I think look really neat with wide bands, they are also fairly slender in width compared to the larger ones. A few of them are in the original first post and I think you’re referencing those as paracymatoceras, thanks for the info!

[JamieLynn]

This one is Paracymatoceras:  See the narrow bands: 

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

3 minutes ago, JamieLynn said:

This one is Paracymatoceras:  See the narrow bands: 

Thank you, very interesting! That’s the one that looked so beautiful sliced. It was the only nautiloid I found in a spot that has a lot of small mortoniceras ammonites. I have another one that is in really good shape on the outside, I’m still working on it. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

These are really nice too!

I'm rather fond of nautiloids.

Edited February 11 by Tidgy's Dad

[Jaybot]

On 2/10/2024 at 10:42 PM, Shaun-DFW Fossils said:

I took the risk of cutting this unique nautiloid that I found under a bridge by a busy highway. I was blown away..especially after my friend Mercer got it polished for me. What a beauty! If anyone has ever seen a Texas nautiloid (other than mine) sliced and looking like this, I want to know. I think this one belongs in my personal collection permanently. Tarrant county, TX, found last Summer. 

Beautiful specimen!  I'm still on the hunt for my first Nautiloid and first Ammo, they are both pretty scarce in the KC area.

Happy hunting!

 

-Jay