Cephalopods, trilobite, other invertebrates, Permian reef slope (Guadalupe Mountains National Park)

[verydeadthings]

Hi guys! This is a continuation of a previous post focusing just on the sponges. These fossils are from the Capitan Formation, which is Permian Period, Guadalupian Epoch, Capitanian Stage. Because these fossils are in the park, no collecting was allowed, and I can't provide additional images. Any confirmations about the identification or suggestions about a more specific identification are welcome.

 

 

This trilobite is the only fossil out of these images that was actually found in Carlsbad Caverns, right behind the elevator. Can I get more specific on an ID?

 

 

Cross section of rugose coral? Sponge?

 

 

Bryozoan. Acanthocladia?

 

 

Bryozoan?

 

 

Crinoid.

[verydeadthings]

 

Goniatitic ammonite?

 

 

Cephalopod...ammonite?

 

 

Cephalopod...nautiloid?

 

 

[verydeadthings]

 

Gastropod...can we get more specific on ID?

 

 

Pisolite?

 

 

[verydeadthings]

And finally, some fusilinid foraminifera, I'm no foram expert but I think these are Polydiexidina sp. because of the geology guide for the trail we were on.

 

[Innocentx]

Some pretty good photos here. Especially like the detailed forams!! 

[The Amateur Paleontologist]

I like the cephalopods  Thanks for this illustrated report

-Christian

 

P.S. Sorry I can't help with ID... I don't know that much about Permian marine fauna..

[piranha]

Brezinski says 25-30 axial rings and this one appears to have 30+!  A spectacular pygidium!

 

 

figure from:

 

Brezinski, D.K. 1992

Permian Trilobites from West Texas.

Journal of Paleontology, 66(6):924-943  PDF LINK

[Tidgy's Dad]

Some glorious pictures. 

Love the trilobite, the goniatites and the fusilinids in particular. 

I think the second photo is a transverse section through a tabulate coral. 

[verydeadthings]

Thanks for the responses! The trilobite identification is very cool. I do have another view of that second possible horn coral, or tabulate coral, as Tidgy's Dad suggested:

 

[Paciphacops]

Very cool trilobite. Finding it behind the elevator makes it even better. I'm surprised it survived the onslaught of sulfuric acid* so well. I wonder if it was exposed during construction of the elevator?

 

*Carlsbad and many other Guadalupe caves were formed from sulfuric acid derived from hydrogen sulfide rising up from petroleum deposits.

[fifbrindacier]

Cool, nice fossils. I agree your second photos can be a rugose coral.

[Innocentx]

There look to be a complex of openings on the left(recent photo), probably a colonial rugose coral.

[jpc]

The rangers don't usually show the trilobite... you have to ask to see it and they will point it out.  Understandably, they want to minimize the chances of some nitwit trying to collect it.  

[Innocentx]

1 hour ago, jpc said:

nitwit

Great word, possibly meaning 'has the brain of a louse'. 

[verydeadthings]

I thought about leaving out the location of the trilobite in case someone reading this has the foolish notion to try and break it out of the rock, but I doubt even an hour banging around it with a rock hammer would get it out. I'm sure that would quickly attract the attention of park rangers. Also the whole cavern is full of speleothems which would probably be much more tempting targets for said nitwit