Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I found this rostroconch in the FInis Shale in Texas. What I was wondering is I think they were filter feeders and have never found one open like this unless there is a hinge missing.. Part of the shell to the left of the opening shows signs of having the scallop-like edges broken off but I can see no damage running along the rest nor can I see where a missing hinge would have attached. Am I missing something? All are pics of the same fossil.. The last one isn't very good but the only shot with a US penny for scale.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendell Ricketts Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 That's a very nice specimen. I've found a number of these in the Pennsylvanian, both in Texas and elsewhere, but rarely quite so well preserved. As far as I know, rostroconchs did not have functioning hinges; the gape between the valves is normal and the shell evidently remained open in adults. ~W~ _________________________________ Wendell Ricketts Fossil News: The Journal of Avocational Paleontology http://fossilnews.org https://twitter.com/Fossil_News The "InvertebrateMe" blog http://invertebrateme.wordpress.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 That's a very nice specimen. I've found a number of these in the Pennsylvanian, both in Texas and elsewhere, but rarely quite so well preserved. As far as I know, rostroconchs did not have functioning hinges; the gape between the valves is normal and the shell evidently remained open in adults. ~W~ I did not know that.. This must be the first adult I have found.. I found maybe 3 and the valves have been shut tight or I would have noticed.. Thanks for your answer, Wendell.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 That is the "gape", more evident in some species than others. Though they had two valves, rostroconchs lacked a proper hinge, with the shell layers continuing across the hinge area; the aperture of the gape was how they fed. EDIT: Scooped by Wendell! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 They were initially thought to be bivalves, but were later given their own class. The majority of bivalves are filter feeders and would assume that would include rostroconchs. A couple of views of a similar Rostroconch collected at my locality in Missouri ... Pseudoconocardium sp Barry Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 That is the "gape", more evident in some species than others. Though they had two valves, rostroconchs lacked a proper hinge, with the shell layers continuing across the hinge area; the aperture of the gape was how they fed. EDIT: Scooped by Wendell! Thanks, Auspex I found a good pdf a little while ago. It seems they haven't been studied very much.. Here is the link if you are or anyone else is interested.. It has some holotype images also.. http://etheses.bham....shaw04PhD02.pdf Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Roz on a roll... Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 They were initially thought to be bivalves, but were later given their own class. The majority of bivalves are filter feeders and would assume that would include rostroconchs. A couple of views of a similar Rostroconch collected at my locality in Missouri ... Pseudoconocardium sp Barry Very nice specimen, Barry! What amazes me is how lucky so many hunters are that the Pennsylvanian age can kick out such fossils with great detail... I have often wondered why that is given their age... The conditions must have been just right.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Roz on a roll... Congrats! Thanks, Scott but it's more I have been hunting some good sites.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Once again I have learned something new - I had never heard of them! Cool find Roz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Once again I have learned something new - I had never heard of them! Cool find Roz! Thanks, Jim.. I think you hunt Pennsylvanian age sites too so I would think you may find one.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Very nice specimen, Barry! What amazes me is how lucky so many hunters are that the Pennsylvanian age can kick out such fossils with great detail... I have often wondered why that is given their age... The conditions must have been just right.. I've wondered the same thing, Roz. Those are beautiful specimens. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vordigern Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 wow, great find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordpiney Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 that is a beautiful little shell Roz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share Posted October 2, 2011 Thanks Phil, John, and Vordigern! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 That's a very nice one, Roz. You don't see those very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 That's a very nice one, Roz. You don't see those very often. Thanks, Mike! I love those! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The Pseudoconocardium sp I posted (above) is the only one found to-date at my Missouri locality. All the others found are a different species and much smaller Pseudobigalea crista Hoare et al Middle Pennsylvanian - Desmoinesian Stage Marmaton Group - Altamont Formation St Louis, County - Missouri Barry Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 Yes, and there appear to be a lot of visual differences too.. It's good to see them.. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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