Jim K Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Hello, I just recently joined the group and I am hoping for some help on this fossil. Other than the photos, I can't offer any information on it. About 20 years ago I was at an estate sale, in an old home, and spotted a rock up on the foundation in the basement. Upon retrieving it and blowing off the layers of dust and dirt, I found this fossil. I asked if it was for sale, and bought it for a dollar. The texture on the fossil has caused my imagination to wander, but I have no idea what it might be or where it came from. Any information is much appreciated. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Welcome to the forum! i can’t help in your ID but it looks pretty interesting. Someone will be along soon with an ID. Best I can do is say with a little confidence is that it’s fauna rather than flora. Looks cool whatever it is. 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Reminds me of a paleozoic shark tooth? Although I'm not sure I've ever seen one in a nodule like that. My other thought was some kind of arthropod exoskeleton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Crab in the Family Raninidae. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Crab was my first thought, so I agree with the above statement. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I'd say crab as well. Looks to be concave, which would mean we're looking at the inside of the carapace if that's the case. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I think there is more of the crab in the rock, and it would benefit from a professional preparation. Nice find, especially for such a low price. Maybe one of TFF's crab experts can identify where it came from. @RJB, @Doctor Mud, @MB, @bruce, @caterpillar, @crabfossilsteve Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I believe this is just a single crab claw a concretion. 1 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 9 minutes ago, fossilized6s said: I believe this is just a single crab claw a concretion. This is not a claw, it's a raninid carapace. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 29 minutes ago, piranha said: This is not a claw, it's a raninid carapace. This was the part that was throwing me off. That, and the heavily pitted texture. I don't have one of these to reference and can't find anything on Google. Do these crabs have a line of spikes going down the sides of the carapace? ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 1 hour ago, fossilized6s said: ...Do these crabs have a line of spikes going down the sides of the carapace?... Yes, some species have this morphology. Here is a modern analog for comparison: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelius Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 That's a very lucky find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 One dollar? Wow! Bargain of the century, i feel. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 piranha hit this one right on the nail head. If there is enouph rock underneath, it may have some leg and there could be claws, but usually, when I find these, they are moslty just the carapace. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruitbat Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Welcome to The Fossil Forum! Ah...it's just an old, dead crab. Have you ever smelled a dead crab that has been sitting around for a while? They really STINK! I think you need to sell it to me for $2 (double your money) and I'll even pay the shipping to Texas! Just kidding, of course! Nice find! I'm going to have to start hitting estate sales more often! -Joe 2 Illigitimati non carborundum Fruitbat's PDF Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 Thanks to everyone for your response. It's nice to finally know what it is. Who says there is nothing to be found in the glaciated parts of Wisconsin . Thanks again! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminal Stareasaurus Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Wisconsin? You should find all kinds of fossils up that way. Definitely a crab shell. I found most of mine in PA and Ohio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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