The extinct cephalopod Metacoceras clinocostatum is a species commonly found in Brush Creek limestone. Compared to other examples of the genus Metacoceras, it is very small in size. I was apprehensive about identifying these. In the past, I believed they were the inner whorls of larger specimens. But, these areRead More →
In finding marine fossils in the Glenshaw Formation, I have noticed three distinct preservation types within the limestone. This observation does not say that there are only three, but these are the most common I have identified. All these involve the preservation of marine creatures’ remains in limestone. Marine limestoneRead 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 →
UPDATE: This is not Strobeus, but Leptoptygma. Cleaning out the aperture makes this clear. April 2023. This tiny late Paleozoic gastropod is most likely identified as Strobeus brevis. Measuring somewhere between four and five millimeters, this snail would be challenging to spot if you were not looking for it. ThisRead More →
Without a doubt, the genus Metacoceras is one of the two most common cephalopod genera found locally. This particular specimen preserves inner chambers. It did split in half while I was recovering it, but to my surprise, everything remained intact. Individual septal wall/suture lines can be seen on close inspection.Read More →
I still have only found two examples of the genus Neospirifer locally. I spent three or more hours on this one, carefully removing excess parts of the limestone matrix. I’ve been getting more patient with the air scribe, turning it down to work on more delicate areas. There are wellRead More →
In continuing new specimen photography, I have completed the photography for all Wilkingia terminale in the catalog. I have described some specimens in the text below. CG-0012, Wilkingia terminale The specimen is nearly 7 cm in length, from posterior to anterior, and 2 cm between margins. Growth lines are visibleRead More →
In writing the most recent research article, Aviculopinna, I set up an area to photograph specimens. While having this setup available, I went ahead and re-photographed the first seven specimens in the fossil catalog. Specimen CG-0001 John Harper identified this specimen as possibly being Orthotetes, a brachiopod. The preservation isRead More →
Yet again, I need to reverse the identification of the specimens below. I will be altering the article, but the specimen referenced found in the Brush Creek limestone is not E. longispinus, but Kozlowskia splendens. L. longispinus is found in the late Mississippian of European and U.K. rocks. Eomarginifera longispinusRead More →
Kozlowskia splendens is a species of brachiopod described in the Brachiopods of Ohio book. The species is reported from the Brush Creek limestone. I originally wrote this post about specimen CG-0008, but it turned out to be Eomarginifera longispinus. The difference? The so-called ears of the shell. This is theRead More →