sixgill pete Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) First I want to thank Doren, a.k.a. caldigger for making some Sharktooth Hill micro matrix available. I got a 4 pound box from him for $8 plus the shipping cost. After cleaning and sifting in a .75mm sifter , I ended up with about a pint of searchable matrix. It was loaded. In all I found about 50 or so ray teeth, 5 basking shark teeth and plenty of other goodies. I thought I would share some of my spoils with y'all. I have attempted to ID everything the best I can, if you see it differently, please give me your opinion. Just hold the cursor on the photo for the ID. Ray teeth Dermal Elements, I have seen the ones in the center somewhere ID'd as Cetorhinus scutes An Unknown Ray tooth Shark Teeth And finally, I thought I would add this picture of my outside work table. Drying on it is a 5 gallon bucket of Lee Creek matrix ready for searching and about a gallon or so of Cretaceous PeeDee matrix from Castle Hayne NC. If anyone has any good micro matrix and is interested in a trade please contact me. Edited December 18, 2013 by sixgill pete Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik m Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Nice finds Good looking micro teeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Don Really nice specimens. I also got some STH matrix from Doren. It is loaded with micros like you said. .75mm may miss the really small micros like Rhinobatos, Mustelus, Gymnura etc. I used a .4mm sift and am finding these. The Cetorhinus aren't maximus. The STH Cetorhinus species can have a single cusplet with cusplets more common in the juvenile teeth. Although Mobula are common in the STH fauna, I believe the tooth that you have labeled as Mobula might be a Myliobatis lateral tooth. Also from looking at the root, I believe that the Raja might be Dasyatis. 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...
sixgill pete Posted December 18, 2013 Author Share Posted December 18, 2013 Marco, I do have quite a few extremely small teeth that I have yet to photo and ID. Probably in the .5 to .75mm range. Explain to me again please, the difference in the roots of Raja and Myliobatis. The roots on that one tooth run straight down from the tooth, they do not angle or curve out. The Cetorhinus should be labeled sp.? As always, I value your input and expertise, I'm learning more about these ray teeth slowly but surely. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickNC Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Very cool Don. I'd like to get some of that myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Marco, I do have quite a few extremely small teeth that I have yet to photo and ID. Probably in the .5 to .75mm range. Explain to me again please, the difference in the roots of Raja and Myliobatis. The roots on that one tooth run straight down from the tooth, they do not angle or curve out. The Cetorhinus should be labeled sp.? As always, I value your input and expertise, I'm learning more about these ray teeth slowly but surely. Don The Cetorhinus will be resolved very soon. I can't say more than that right now. Two things you need to keep in mind with Raja. They always have smooth enameloid and the roots are very narrow at the level of the collar and widely overhung by the crown and spread outward typically as you move to the base of the root which a lot of times is then beyond the crown overhang. The roots like the crowns of Raja do vary widely so more description than what I gave is very difficult. Raja from STH are very scarce and their size is very small (1mm or less). I've looked through a lot of STH matrix over the years and have only found a couple. Your tooth just doesn't look like a Raja from the pictures but it could be just the angles. The roots of Mobula are narrow, bi or multilobate, and the furrows are not very deep and the crowns have a triangular profile and angle noticeably upward in profile view. From the root and crown your tooth looks like a Myliobatis lateral tooth. Your unknown ray tooth could also be a Myliobatis lateral tooth. Marco Sr. 1 "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...
FossilForKids Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I visited Marco's house a few years ago and while he was showing me his incredible collection of micros he was whistling "it's a small world after all"..appropriate and creepy at the same time If only my teeth are so prized a million years from now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kauffy Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 sweet micros "Turn the fear of the unknown into the excitment of possibility!"We dont stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I visited Marco's house a few years ago and while he was showing me his incredible collection of micros he was whistling "it's a small world after all"..appropriate and creepy at the same time John I did offer to show you all of the big stuff, bones, jaws, skulls in the basement but you seemed a little too uneasy to take a look. Maybe the next time you visit as long as nobody else knows that you are visiting me. I hope all is well. Have you moved back in CA? 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...
megateeth Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Very cool. That must be an amazing place to hunt. Megateeth Fossils - Megalodon Teeth, Other Shark Teeth and Info about Megalodon shark tooth collecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilForKids Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yeah Marco I live in Ventura and actual am going to do an STH dig in 4 weeks! I can't wait!! If only my teeth are so prized a million years from now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Marco Sr., Yes, I have also noticed that Raja is very rare and not just because the teeth are so small. Even when you go through the 0.5mm-1mm concentrate, you will find very few. I think I have only two as well. I agree that the tooth identified as Mobula and the unknown tooth are Myliobatis lateral teeth and the one identified as Raja is a small dasyatid. Once in a while, you can find a partial Myliobatis tooth plate with at least one lateral tooth still attached. Jess Don Raja from STH are very scarce and their size is very small (1mm or less). I've looked through a lot of STH matrix over the years and have only found a couple. Your tooth just doesn't look like a Raja from the pictures but it could be just the angles. The roots of Mobula are narrow, bi or multilobate, and the furrows are not very deep and the crowns have a triangular profile and angle noticeably upward in profile view. From the root and crown your tooth looks like a Myliobatis lateral tooth. Your unknown ray tooth could also be a Myliobatis lateral tooth. Marco Sr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 Thanks for your input Jess. The teeth in question have been relabeled accordingly. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yeah Marco I live in Ventura and actual am going to do an STH dig in 4 weeks! I can't wait!! John Good luck on your dig. 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 December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Don I have found a Raja in Doren's matrix and will post it with some other specimens when I'm done searching all of the matrix. I find a lot of Raja in different matrix from VA, NC and SC. The more of these that you hold in your hand, the easier they become to recognize. 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...
jcbshark Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Very nice specimens Don,congrats. Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Nice finds Good looking micro teeth Very cool Don. I'd like to get some of that myself. sweet micros Very cool. That must be an amazing place to hunt. Very nice specimens Don,congrats. Thanks guys. I still have a small container of ray teeth to go through and ID, some about .5mm. Wish I was able to actually make a trip out there, but that is going to have to wait right now. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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