I started my research thinking this fossil was Mahoningoceras Murphy 1974, then later thought it was smashed, had straight flank sutures, and was a Millkoninckioceras Kummel 1963. I reversed this decision again after comparing it to Millkoninckioceras and refocused on Mahoningoceras. Yet, I received a photo of the holotype fromRead More →
The gastropod Bellerophon nodocarinatus (=Euphemites nodocarinatus) was named by Hall in 1858 in a geological report of Iowa. The name means knotty/lumpy kneels (or carina), characterized by the dual lumpy ridges visible from the anterior margin across the shell. Members of Euphemites have spiral lirae that appear in the aperture and extend toward theRead More →
An excellent specimen of Trepospira sphaerulata was recovered in late December 2021. It is a much better example of this species of Paleozoic gastropod, so I am replacing the content of this article with photos of it. New images should help future researchers search for an excellent example of thisRead More →
The following are six cataloged specimens of Composita from the Brush Creek limestone within the Glenshaw Formation. Specimen CG-0258 is unique within the group, as it comes from a modified soft limestone and preserves features inside of the shell. Composita Sulcus Views The sulcus on Composita is very apparent andRead More →
Cordaites and Calamites are two familiar plants in the Late Pennsylvanian fossil fauna. The two are similar as fossils, presenting as long horizontal grooves in rocks. Cordaites differs from Calamites as the latter has a termination of the groves with occasional perpendicular grooves coming from the presence of nodes. IRead More →
Recently I was able to obtain two nice examples of Lepidodendron from the Pottsville Formation in Alabama. This formation is two formations away from the Glenshaw, having the Allegheny Formation between them. Both specimens are different species, however, species for these could very well just mean they come from aRead More →
Norwood and Pratten first described Antiquatonia portlockiana in 1855 as Producti portlockianus. 1976 the species was rearranged as Antiquatonia portlockiana by Douglas C. Brew and Stanley S. Beus. Specimens of Antiquatonia Portlockiana from Armstrong County Brachiopods have been a less-than-common find at the Pine Creek locality. Gastropods, Cephalopods, and RugoseRead More →
If there is a common theme for discovery posts here, it is for the genera Metacoceras and Petalodus. In the past, I’ve numbered each specimen using roman numerals. As I’ve gained specimens, I may continue the sub numbering but will make fewer individual posts about particular specimens. Two new specimensRead More →
The Paleozoic gastropod (snail) Shansiella carbonaria (Yin 1932) is a common find in the Pine Creek limestone locality I search in Armstrong County. Specimens are easy to come by, and each is unique and visually pleasing to examine. Norwood & Pratten described this medium-sized snail more than 160 years agoRead More →
If I find a large convolute cephalopod in local Brush Creek Limestone, it’s usually the genus Metacoceras. Each find is a unique opportunity to study the genus as a whole. It’s the luck of the draw that determines how each will present itself, once a rock hammer breaks open aRead More →