New Members ecastano Posted June 8, 2021 New Members Share Posted June 8, 2021 My kids founds this fossil in Capitola, as part of the Purisima formation. Curious if it's something obvious enough for you pros out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earendil Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 That doesn't exactly look like bone to me... more like pottery. But I would wait for the experts. "Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl; Wrecked is the ship of pearl! And every chambered cell, Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell" -From The Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell Holmes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 I think it could be a partial internal mold of the moon snail, Polinices lewisi - the big gastropod of the Purisima. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ecastano Posted June 9, 2021 Author New Members Share Posted June 9, 2021 Thanks for the tip, MOTM! Now that you mention it, I can see how that may be possible. However, I'm still not confident that it's likely. What about the inner ear of a cetacean? That was another hypothesis I explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 2 hours ago, ecastano said: MOTM That's the abbreviation for Member Of The Month. His real monicker is siteseer. 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 I'm thinking it's an internal mold of a large slipper shell: Crepidula. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ecastano Posted June 10, 2021 Author New Members Share Posted June 10, 2021 Thanks, @Carl. I think you nailed it! Any sense for how rare these are to find? I just know my son will ask. It looks just like these: http://www.manandmollusc.net/Mystery_shell_pages/colby-mystery.html https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/7/21/229482/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 First, it would help to get the dimensions. I think that would have to be from an unusually large Crepidula. It is present in the same fauna as Polinices but usually around 2 inches. Your specimen would be in the range of an average P. lewisi which can measure 3-4 inches. I don't think it's the right shape for a whale ear bone and would be large for a piece of one. @Boesse The next time you go to the Santa Cruz area, you should visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. It's a great place to stop. You can buy a cheap but helpful guide to the invertebrate fossils of the Purisima in the gift shop. You can get it in their online store as well. https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/ Jess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ecastano Posted June 10, 2021 Author New Members Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) Thanks for chiming in, Jess! While the shape seems to fit Crepidula, I think you're right about the size. The specimen we found is about 2.5 x 3.25". That puts it in the range of Polinices lewisi. I appreciate the insight, as well as the tip on the Santa Cruz Musuem of Natural History! For now, I am satisfied knowing that it is very likely the inner mold of a gastropod. We might have to go back and better document the area were we found it. -Ed Edited June 10, 2021 by ecastano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 It's 100% an internal mold of Crepidula princeps; these are typically around 3" at Capitola but I've seen them exceed 4". This would be a big one. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ecastano Posted June 10, 2021 Author New Members Share Posted June 10, 2021 @Boesse you're right! Existing Crepidula are typically 25 mm, but Crepidula Princeps can go up to 100mm! Thanks all for helping me solve this mystery. My kids will be excited to here this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, ecastano said: @Boesse but Crepidula Princeps can go up to 100mm! In France 5 cm Crepidula fornicata can be found. Coco 2 ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Pareidolia : here Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 On 6/10/2021 at 1:57 PM, ecastano said: Thanks, @Carl. I think you nailed it! Any sense for how rare these are to find? I just know my son will ask. It looks just like these: http://www.manandmollusc.net/Mystery_shell_pages/colby-mystery.html https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/7/21/229482/ I know Crepidula is a very common fossil in the Purisima, but that preservation is rare and special. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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