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Labeling designations for unknown fossils


thelivingdead531

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Hey everyone, my brain is mush right now so bear with me as I try to explain what I’m asking. I have what I thought was a pseudo fossil but another member identified it as “probably an internal mold of part of a large inoceramid bivalve such as Inoceramus lamarcki”. Photo of said item below.
BE8B4555-25D9-4BB5-BA47-273FB5B2A090.thumb.jpeg.5ba97733a9ad3dab268a964f9e853533.jpeg
 

So, because it resembles a specific genus and species, but I don’t know for sure, how do I go about labeling it? That was just my personal example.

 

 I know about using the designation sp. when the species is unknown, and I know there are other designations but I can’t think of them or how they are used. Is there a handy guide for those others? Sorry if what I’m asking is so confusing, it’s -2 F degrees here and my brain is frozen. I can try to clarify if it’s unclear.

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28 minutes ago, thelivingdead531 said:

mush right now

 

28 minutes ago, thelivingdead531 said:

my brain is frozen

LOL!! :heartylaugh:

 

Seriously, I would not go too deep into that taxonomic details. Why not just writing: "Probably a partial internal mold of a large inoceramid such as Inoceramus lamarcki” :)Not enough space on your label? Choose a finer print ;).

Franz Berhard

Edited by FranzBernhard
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45 minutes ago, thelivingdead531 said:

Is there a handy guide for those others?

 

Here are the possibilities:

      

                  Taxon                             Degree of certainty

 

Inoceramus lamarcki ------------- Taxon definitely identified.
Inoceramus cf. I. lamarcki -------- Taxon compared with named species.
Inoceramus aff. I. lamarcki  ------ Taxon has affinities with named species.
Inoceramus? lamarcki ------------ Species questionably assigned to genus.
Inoceramus lamarcki?-------------Species doubtful, but assigned to correct genus.
?Inoceramus lamarcki-------------Entire assignment doubtful.

 

Here's a helpful paper on the general subject:

 

Paleontologic Terminology.pdf

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Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger

http://www.steinkern.de/

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Wouldn’t “Steinkern cf Inomacerus lamarcki” or “cf Inoceramid steinkern” work?

 

edit I saw Ludwigia’s reply probably better to follow that

Edited by R0b
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15 minutes ago, Ludwigia said:

 

Here are the possibilities:

      

                  Taxon                             Degree of certainty

 

Inoceramus lamarcki ------------- Taxon definitely identified.
Inoceramus cf. I. lamarcki -------- Taxon compared with named species.
Inoceramus aff. I. lamarcki  ------ Taxon has affinities with named species.
Inoceramus? lamarcki ------------ Species questionably assigned to genus.
Inoceramus lamarcki?-------------Species doubtful, but assigned to correct genus.
?Inoceramus lamarcki-------------Entire assignment doubtful.

 

Here's a helpful paper on the general subject:

 

Paleontologic Terminology.pdf 394.39 kB · 2 downloads

This is what I was thinking of! About where to place “?” and the different abbreviations and what they mean. Thank you! I didn’t quite know how to search it up. 

 

33 minutes ago, FranzBernhard said:

Seriously, I would not go too deep into that taxonomic details. Why not just writing: "Probably a partial internal mold of a large inoceramid such as Inoceramus lamarcki” :)Not enough space on your label? Choose a finer print ;).

I can definitely write that, though I will have to write pretty small. :dinothumb: I was also just wondering as a general thing, for possible future use. Thanks for the help! :)

19 minutes ago, R0b said:

Wouldn’t “Steinkern cf Inomacerus lamarcki” or “cf Inoceramid steinkern” work?

 

edit I saw Ludwigia’s reply probably better to follow that

Yup! I just couldn’t remember the abbreviations and what they meant or how to use them. That’s what I was mainly asking about but my brain just couldn’t convey that. :DOH: I appreciate the help!

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2 minutes ago, thelivingdead531 said:

This is what I was thinking of! About where to place “?” and the different abbreviations and what they mean. Thank you! I didn’t quite know how to search it up. 

You're welcome. The paper I gave you is very helpful in this respect.

 

Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger

http://www.steinkern.de/

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39 minutes ago, Ludwigia said:

You're welcome. The paper I gave you is very helpful in this respect.

Yes it is, and answered a lot of questions I had. :dinothumb:

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