Isotelus structure

[Fullux]

Howdy all,

 

Had some great luck fossil hunting in the Drakes Formation today, particularly in this piece here.

 

This is a chunk of matrix with several isotelus molt fragments and this particular one pictured here is the largest I've ever found.

 

The reason I'm making this post is because of a structure I found on the underside of the piece. I at first took it for a brachiopod, but after cleaning it off and looking closer, I wasn't so sure. One surface of it looks like the typical grooves you'd see on brachiopod genera such as hebertella and rafinesquina, but looking over on another surface of the structure, it looks like typical isotelus remains, which confuses me.

 

The structure also continues into the matrix in a very un-brachiopodish way.

 

I'm curious if this could be a hypostome from an isotelus or some other structure from that genus, or if it could be from another arthropod entirely.

 

I'm including a video to give a better view of all the angles.

 

 

[Ludwigia]

I believe one can see those type of structures on the hypostome, but let's give the experts here time to tune in.

[Mark Kmiecik]

The striations seem to be too fine in relation to the size of the piece to be a brachiopod, in my opinion.

[Fullux]

Been observing it all day. It seems to match up fairly well with a hypostome.

[Fullux]

I've been observing this piece for a few days now and I'm curious about this structure here by the hypostome. Might anyone have an idea as to what it is?

 

If you zoom in real close you can see pours running along one of the "ridges."

Edited July 20 by Fullux

[minnbuckeye]

I know the ventral side of Isotelus cephalon has striations similar to your find. But I am not convinced I am right.

 

[Fullux]

46 minutes ago, minnbuckeye said:

I know the ventral side of Isotelus cephalon has striations similar to your find. But I am not convinced I am right.

 

Could it be part of the hypostome?