lordpiney Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Hey everyone... My father lost his very short fight with Cancer on May 20th, 2012. I managed to spend his last two weeks alive, with him at his house in Avon Park, FL. A day after his passing, we (my step mom, and brother) decided to hit the Peace River, to celebrate one of the things he loved to do most...Chill out on his favorite stretch of the river. I only had a few hours to kill before my flight home, so we went to Bowling Green.(one of his favorite spots to relax). Not much fossil-wise, but I did catch a pic of the biggest Plecostomus catfish Ive ever seen. On the way back to my dads house, we took a wrong turn onto an unpaved rd. as we drove down it, i noticed a bunch of shells on the shoulder, and got out to find a bunch of the nicest shells that i have ever found on land! Here is a small section of what i believe is bird bone... As the hunt neared an end, I happened to glance over towards the grassy shoulder, and I saw a chunk of bright orange colored rock. Thinking Calcite, I picked it up, only to see a course bristled hair sticking out of the side of it! Needless to say, it passed all the tests for Amber. So, what I found is a chunk of Florida Amber, with a Mammal hair sticking out of it. Anyway, I can find out what the hair belonged to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Very sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Looking at those pictures, I can certainly see why he loved relaxing their.Great shells also...and the "amber" is very odd...It's not like any rock I've ever seen from FL, but I've also never heard of amber from here. Cool whatever it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordpiney Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 Thanks Cris... I have never heard of Florida Amber either, but it's def Amber. It floats on salt water, and passes the burn test. Very ODD to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Hi, Sorry for your dad, Lordpiney. You had well tribute by going on this zone which he liked. Your shells are very nice. I love Vermitidae, and others. What is the age of this area ? Pliocene ? 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...
larry739 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Sorry about your dad but it sounds like you celebrated his life the way he would have liked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Phil, So sorry for your loss. You made some great memories after, though. Great finds,... and just how big WAS that Pleco! Looks huge! Condolences, and best wishes to you and yours. Regards, 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...
RickNC Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Sorry to hear about your dad. Enjoyed the pics. Obviously I don't believe those fish are native right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 (edited) Condolences on the loss of your Dad. The fish you picture has the appearance of the plecostomus, Hypostomus plecostomus. This is a popular aquarium fish, although their large, mature size makes them unsuited for smaller tanks. I had one for years, who happily lived in a 70 gal. community tank. She was well over a foot long and even survived jumping out of a small opening in the cover and being stranded on he floor for several hours. These critters are native to tropical Central and South America. Does anyone know if they have been introduced to FL and become naturalized or is this a single escapee? Alternately, is this just a native fish that looks similar? Edited June 9, 2013 by snolly50 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordpiney Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 Thanks everyone...This Pleco was at least a foot and a half long, and there were two of them. this being the largest of the two.(but not by much!) They both had dug holes in the limestone river bed, and were sleeping headfirst in their holes. They are just another of the introduced fish species that now make Florida waters their home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakoMeCrazy Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Sorry to hear about your dad lordpiney. Hope he is enjoying himself in Heaven. Nice shell finds. That is such a cool Plecostomus catfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyersfan805 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I am glad you got to spend the last two weeks with your dad. and looking at your pics I can certainly relate to why he loved that place so much! Very cool finds I love the hair in the amber! thats awesome. mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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