LanceH Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) I have this bizarre fossil from 2007 that I still don't know what it is. It's surface is thin and it's filled with matrix (no boney core) so I'm think arthropod-ish but I don't know. This is from the Graham Formation in Young County, Texas. Edited October 17, 2014 by LanceH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Phyllocarid jaw/mandible? Regards, Edited October 17, 2014 by Fossildude19 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "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...
LanceH Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 Underside and topside view: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceH Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 Awesome! I see those critters are more known from the Devonian but do range higher into the Carboniferous. This one would be upper Pennsylvanian. I'm not sure if they are even documented in Texas Pennsylvanian. Mine is not shaped exactly like the others seen online but it's close enough that it must be related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 I'd hate to run into a phyllocarid with mandibles that big. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceH Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 (edited) I did a Google search and it gave me sample pages from a book titled "Predator-Prey Interactions in the Fossil Record". There's a chapter discussing predator damage to Finis Shale ammonoids, nautiloids, and snails. Here's the interesting part: 3.7. A Hypothetical Predation Scenario There are several kinds of predation scenarios that can be developed from this analysis. The Carboniferous predators that must be considered are sharks and other fish, arthropods (especially the phyllocarids), and other cephalopods. Edited October 18, 2014 by LanceH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceH Posted October 18, 2014 Author Share Posted October 18, 2014 I'd hate to run into a phyllocarid with mandibles that big. Yeah, I was telling Roz that with mandibles that size it must have been pretty big like maybe 2 feet wide (just guessing). You would not want to put your finger near it's mouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 It reminds me of a lungfish tooth. Some of them have the pitted texture that your fossil has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njfossilhunter Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 (edited) It reminds me of a lungfish tooth. Some of them have the pitted texture that your fossil has. That was my first impression.....but when I saw the underside ..I'm not sure what to make of it. But if your fossil came from formation around 300 million years old it could be a lungfish from that period. There were many different looking lungfish plates some small like the one in my avatar and as big as a hand ....so you need to send a photo of this fossil someone like Dr James Kirkland at the Utah Geological Survey or a museum that maybe able to ID this for you. Edited October 18, 2014 by njfossilhunter TonyThe Brooks Are Like A Box Of Chocolates,,,, You Never Know What You'll Find. I Told You I Don't Have Alzheimer's.....I Have Sometimers. Some Times I Remember And Some Times I Forget.... I Mostly Forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Looks like lungfish to me as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 has the same "bradyodont' type texture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Lungfish certainly makes a bit more sense, considering the size of the specimen. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "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...
LanceH Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 The only problem I have with lungfish is that the surface is thin and it appears to be filled with matrix indicating it was a hollow fossil and not boney inside. I have this smaller one from similar age deposits but different locality: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 The only problem I have with lungfish is that the surface is thin and it appears to be filled with matrix indicating it was a hollow fossil and not boney inside. The depositional environment could have been not favorable for preservation of bone. I can't quite tell in the photos.... Are there signs of surface wear? Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceH Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Both fossils appear "fresh" with good surface texture and no apparent wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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