Fossilized shell?

[Kimber]

Found this perfectly whole shell in dried mud fossil pile.  Someone told me it's not a fossil? I believe it is but couldn't ID it.  Help?

[Thomas.Dodson]

I'd say some kind of modern arc clam, not a fossil.

[Plantguy]

We've got a ton of fossil material from the Tamiami and Caloosahatchee formations around here and some of them look like they just washed up on the beach so I wouldnt rule out it being a fossil. If someone can bag the genus/species that would be cool. I think I have one similar somewhere from Sarasota/Manatee that I'm not sure I ever tracked down the ID either...cool example whatever it is!!

 

Regards, Chris 

[ted coulianos]

Pretty sure it's a modern Ark shell, Anadara brasiliana , found from N. Carolina to Brazil; valves are slightly unequal & overlap a bit; count the ribs- should be about 25; also, it looks like there's still some byssal tissue on the hinge which makes me think "modern" not fossil;  another candidate might be Anadara chemnitzi, but that species is uncommon in Florida.  Hope this helps, Cheers!

Here's a couple of references:

Anadara brasiliana - Wikipedia

Anadara brasiliana - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

 

Also, you might try to find a copy of "A Field Guide to Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies" by Percy A. Morris; it's part of "The Peterson Field Guide" series & an invaluable handy reference to shells found in Florida.

Edited April 11 by ted coulianos

[automech]

Regardless of what species, it's beautiful. Great find!

[Shellseeker]

9 hours ago, ted coulianos said:

Pretty sure it's a modern Ark shell, Anadara brasiliana , found from N. Carolina to Brazil; valves are slightly unequal & overlap a bit; count the ribs- should be about 25; also, it looks like there's still some byssal tissue on the hinge which makes me think "modern" not fossil;  another candidate might be Anadara chemnitzi, but that species is uncommon in Florida.  Hope this helps, Cheers!

Here's a couple of references:

Anadara brasiliana - Wikipedia

Anadara brasiliana - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

 

Also, you might try to find a copy of "A Field Guide to Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies" by Percy A. Morris; it's part of "The Peterson Field Guide" series & an invaluable handy reference to shells found in Florida.

Thanks Ted , Agree that it is a an Arc Shell.... just not sure which species...

https://neogeneatlas.net/families/Arcidae/

 

@Kimber  Gorgeous photos,  you have a talent... 

You found it in Florida... Must be in Florida's fossil or modern record... 

 

[Kimber]

12 hours ago, Plantguy said:

We've got a ton of fossil material from the Tamiami and Caloosahatchee formations around here and some of them look like they just washed up on the beach so I wouldnt rule out it being a fossil. If someone can bag the genus/species that would be cool. I think I have one similar somewhere from Sarasota/Manatee that I'm not sure I ever tracked down the ID either...cool example whatever it is!!

 

Regards, Chris 

Thank you! How would i get it identified? 

[sixgill pete]

@MikeR

[Kimber]

21 hours ago, Kimber said:

Found this perfectly whole shell in dried mud fossil pile.  Someone told me it's not a fossil? I believe it is but couldn't ID it.  Help?

 

[Kimber]

Day 2 all cleaned an dry. 

[Plantguy]

Glad Ted was able to assign a genus...and probable species...good deal!!...

Looks like the Neogene Atlas also has a bunch of other Anadara listed for the SE US. 

https://neogeneatlas.net/genera/anadara/

Sidenote: I remember finding that same genus Anadara and one of its completely different species in Northern California back in the 70's...very cool memory..That genus got around! 

 

Anyways I do see that species does show up in the Late Pliocene aged Tamiami Fm sediments where my Florida specimen came from so maybe yours is indeed a recent Anadara example and mine is a little bit older, maybe even the same or a diff species...Nice...thanks for the post..

Regards, Chris 

[MikeR]

Scapharca scalarina (Heilprin, 1886).  It is indeed a fossil as it is an extinct species.  I go with Scapharca as opposed to Anadara as listed in the FLMNH database.

 

https://neogeneatlas.net/species/anadara-scalarina/

[Shellseeker]

On 4/11/2024 at 6:02 PM, Kimber said:

Found this perfectly whole shell in dried mud fossil pile.  Someone told me it's not a fossil? I believe it is but couldn't ID it.  Help?

Wow,  Gorgeous find...  If MikeR says it is a fossil... bet the house.. It is in such unbelievable pristine shape with COLOR !!! All preserved as it was Millions of years ago... Truly amazing!

[Balance]

This is mind blowing. What is nature doing?!?  The hinges, the symmetry, the gradual changes towards the center… incredible 

[SPrice]

Fabulous specimen! Go back... with a shovel... with an enthusiastic digger and find more!      

[hadrosauridae]

That is the most gorgeous shell I have ever seen, modern or fossilized.  Amazing find!

[Kimber]

50 minutes ago, SPrice said:

Fabulous specimen! Go back... with a shovel... with an enthusiastic digger and find more!      

I went back today!! It had rained recently  so I used my foot to drag the sides of the bank. Looky what I found! Still dirty, I've only rinsed of the caked mud sand. 

[Kimber]

1 hour ago, SPrice said:

Fabulous specimen! Go back... with a shovel... with an enthusiastic digger and find more!      

I went back today!! It had rained recently so I used my foot to drag the sides of the bank. Looky what I found! Still dirty, I've only rinsed off the caked mud sand

[Kimber]

I went back today!! It had rained recently so I used my foot to drag the sides of the bank. Looky what I found! Still dirty, I've only rinsed of the caked mud sand.  

It think i agree that this is what they are: 

Anadara scalarina from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. Thanks for the Help everyone!

[SPrice]

Wow!  The preservation condition is amazing...but the color retention is INCREDIBLE! I lived in North Carolina for many years before work brought me out to Utah.  

 

We still visit on a regular basis and a beach trip is always included.  A retirement move in a few years might put us in Shallotte, NC ...near Holden Beach and right smack in megalodon country.  Any fossil shells found on or near the beaches are basically one of 3 colors. Bleached white, dull gray or black. 

 

I see one in the group shot which might be a Channeled Whelk ancestor.

 

Congrats on your new finds!

[Balance]

🤐🤐🤐

 

Tell no one! 😂😂😊

 

Jp

[Kimber]

11 hours ago, SPrice said:

Wow!  The preservation condition is amazing...but the color retention is INCREDIBLE! I lived in North Carolina for many years before work brought me out to Utah.  

 

We still visit on a regular basis and a beach trip is always included.  A retirement move in a few years might put us in Shallotte, NC ...near Holden Beach and right smack in megalodon country.  Any fossil shells found on or near the beaches are basically one of 3 colors. Bleached white, dull gray or black. 

 

I see one in the group shot which might be a Channeled Whelk ancestor.

 

Congrats on your new finds!

Thank you! The weird sand clay, mud that has been covering the shells I find really protects everything.  Which shell might be a channeled welk?

[Kimber]

11 hours ago, Balance said:

🤐🤐🤐

 

Tell no one! 😂😂😊

 

Jp

Lol! The only two I told have no interest. I'm sure theres more in there. 

[automech]

I think we have a new Shellseeker.

[Shellseeker]

8 hours ago, Kimber said:

Thank you! The weird sand clay, mud that has been covering the shells I find really protects everything.  Which shell might be a channeled welk?

Here is a Modern Channel Whelk.... similar to one I found one just last week in Connecticut

 

3 hours ago, automech said:

I think we have a new Shellseeker.

Kimber,  I hope you see that as a compliment.. At one time,  I did focus on Florida Modern AND Fossil...  You have a great start....