Submitted on 2007-02-17 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Potter Farm formation

Submitter notes: This is a view showing the ornamentation in the interambulacral area of this blastoid that is charactoristic for species identification.

Photo title: side view of blastoid

Taxa present: Heteroschisma alatum

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Submitted on 2007-02-19 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Thunder Bay formation

Submitter notes: This Cystoid shows a considerable tail portion in addition to the body of this cystoid. The background is finely broken Bryzoan fronds. This is from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Partridge Point, Alpena. The U.S. 10 cent pc. is for scale. The body is 2 cm long with the additional tail just about 3 cm.

Photo title: Devonian Cystoid

Taxa present: Lipsanocystis traversensis

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Submitted on 2007-02-19 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Paulding, Paulding, OH

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: The Phyllocarids were large shrimp-like crustaceans with four species identified in the Silica Formation. These mandibles are often found with nothing else to identify the species. This is a complete set from one side of the animal. 10 cent piece for scale.

Photo title: Phyllocarid 'jaw'

Taxa present: Phyllocarid mandible

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Submitted on 2007-02-20 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This is a Platyceras with the bryozoan, Botryllopora socialis, encrusting it. Elsewhere on this site John Topor shows another example of this unique 'star-shaped' bryozoan on matrix. Here it is happily living on a snail. A 10 cent piece is for scale.

Photo title: Snail with Bryozoa

Taxa present: Botryllopora socialis, Platyceras bucculentum

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Submitted on 2007-02-20 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This Platyceras has an inarticulate Brachiopod, Philhedra crenistriata, living on it. In the Devonian seas, if you were solid, someone started living on you quickly. This inarticulate has clear lines radiating from the center as a diagnostic feature and this shows clearly in this picture.

Photo title: Snail with inarticulate brachiopod

Taxa present: Platyceras bucculentum, Philhedra crenistriata

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Submitted on 2007-02-21 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Sylvania, Lucas, OH

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This first view of this large & old Paraspirifer brachiopod shows the Left side of the fossil with several epifauna clearly visable. Near the hinge point is the scar of Cornulites sp. worm tube that create distinctive scars on both halves of the brachiopods valves. On the top bracial is Aulopra microbuccinata tabulate coral is quite visable & there is bryozoan intermixed with the corals but are hard to identify without higher magnification

Photo title: Silica Paraspirifer bownockeri and epifauna

Taxa present: Paraspirifer bownockeri, Cornulites , Aulopora microbuccinata

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Submitted on 2007-02-21 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Sylvania, Lucas, OH

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This is the right side of the same Paraspirifer bownockeri showing additional epifauna. Again the top is heavily infested with Aulopora tabulate coral but also there is a scared area from an early injury & this has made a snug spot for the inarticulate brachiopod, Petrocrania hamiltoniae, to take up residence.

Photo title: Another view of same paraspirifer

Taxa present: Petrocrania hamiltoniae, Aulopora microbuccinata, Paraspirifer bownockeri

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Submitted on 2007-02-21 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Sylvania, Lucas, OH

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This is a different Paraspirifer bownockeri then the previous two views of the same brachiopod. This example shows the scar and living tube of Cornulites worm that has been on this Paraspirifer a long time given the depth of the scar created. On the top is another large inarticulate brachiopod, Petrocrania hamiltoniae.

Photo title: Third example of Paraspirifer

Taxa present: Petrocrania hamiltoniae, Cornulites , Paraspirifer bownockeri

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Submitted on 2007-03-08 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This image compares the structure & size of Microcyclus thedfordensis with the small corals, Pleurodictyum (Procteria) cornu from the Michigan Silica formation. A. is an example of the Microcyclus from the Thedford area of Ontario, B. shows three examples of the Pleurodictyum, two with the upper multi-coralite side showing & the third showing the under side of another example. Unlike the Microcyclus, the Pleurodictyum does not start by attaching to anything. C. is a slightly larger example of the Pleurodictyum from the Bell Shale in Rockport, MI. Mike Toper has other examples on this site of Microcyclus. The U.S. ten cent piece is for scale.

Photo title: Tiny coralites

Taxa present: Microcyclus thedfordensis, Pleurodictyum (procteria) cornu

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Submitted on 2007-03-08 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Milan, Washtenaw, MI

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This is another species of 'spirifer' Brachiopod from the Silica formation. This top view shows 4 inarticulate brachiopods, Petrocrania hamiltoniae, clustered on the top valve on one side only along with Aulopora corals. There is an additional inarticulate on the underside also which may indicate that this end was above the substrate and allowing the epifauna to live in this area.

Photo title: Spirifer Brachiopod with inarticulates

Taxa present: Mediospirifer audaculus, Petrocrania hamiltoniae, Aulopora

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Submitted on 2007-03-08 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Thedford, Lambton, ON

Strat unit: Arkona formation

Submitter notes: Here is another example of the crinoid holdfast/anchor/grapnel, Ancyrocrinus bulbosus, from the Thedford area of Ontario. This is from the Arkona Shale at the Microcycus layer. What is unusual is the way I found these two parts. The grapnel with it's four arms was found in a wash area one year. I had the extrordinary good luck to find the stem piece the following year! This almost never happens especially with small fossils requiring you to look on hands & knees. What is even more extraordinary, I was able to actually recognize the connection & pick it up!

Photo title: Another Crinoid Grapnel

Taxa present: Ancyrocrinus bulbosus

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Submitted on 2007-03-08 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Thedford, Lambton, ON

Strat unit: Arkona formation

Submitter notes: The two parts united for the complete holdfast.

Photo title: The parts together

Taxa present: Ancyrocrinus bulbosus

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Submitted on 2007-03-09 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Sylvania, Lucas, OH

Strat unit: Silica formation

Submitter notes: This Flexible crinoid from the Sylvania Silica formation is a good size for this species. These are not common. Ten Cent piece & fingers are for scale.

Photo title: Silica Crinoid

Taxa present: Eutaxocrinus wideneri

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Submitted on 2007-03-09 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Thedford, Lambton, ON

Strat unit: Widder formation

Submitter notes: Two different species of horn corals from Arkona & Thedford, Ontario that have the distinct 'scar' of attachment, the bottom valve of the inarticulate braciopod, Petrocrania hamiltoniae, clearly showing. The coral on the left is probablly Cystiphyllum sp.? while the one on the right is Heliophyllum halli. A U.S. Ten Cent piece is for scale. The top valve of the Inarticulate is missing showing the interior muscle scars.

Photo title: Horn Corals with inarticulate attachments

Taxa present: Heliophyllum halli, Petrocrania hamiltoniae, Cystiphyllum

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Submitted on 2007-03-09 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Four Mile Dam formation

Submitter notes: This example of Megistocrinus rugosus crinoid caylx shows how at times mineral replacement can be of a rich red Calcite, making a nice fossil more attractive. This was collected at a bioherm or fossil 'reef' in a quarry. This shows the stem base, the upper tegman is complete also.

Photo title: A 'carnelian' crinoid from Alpena

Taxa present: Megistocrinus rugosus

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Submitted on 2007-03-09 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Four Mile Dam formation

Submitter notes: This shows the tegmen of the previous Megistocrinus rugosus with the red replacement. Traces of red are found in fossils near the bioherms but rarely a complete calyx with this much. U.S. Ten Cent piece for scale

Photo title: The tegmen of 'red' crinoid

Taxa present: Megistocrinus rugosus

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Submitted on 2007-03-14 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Rockport, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Bell formation

Submitter notes: This is an example of Dolatocrinus kutasii from the Bell Shale at Rockport, MI This is described in the 'Contributions from the Museum of Paleontolgy' which is available as a link to this website. Dr. Kesling's tongue in cheek description of the finding of the first complete specimen shows some of the enthusiasm he had for collecting. I found this Calyx in 1995 & it was cleaned by Scott Vergiels of the 'Friends'. This does show attached stem & a part of an arm with pinnules.

Photo title: A rare crinoid from the Bell Shale of Rockport, Alpena

Taxa present: Dolatocrinus kutasii

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Submitted on 2007-03-14 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Rockport, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Bell formation

Submitter notes: This shows a bit more stem & the arm & pinnules

Photo title: Another view of Bell Shale crinoid

Taxa present: Dolatocrinus Kutasii

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Submitted on 2007-03-25 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Thunder Bay formation

Submitter notes: This is one of three views of this Nucleocrinus meloniformis (Barris) specimen collected at Partridge Point in Alpena, MI. This is the oral view with a U.S. Ten cent piece for scale. This large pristine blastoid was just rolling in the water!

Photo title: Thunder Bay Blastoid

Taxa present: Nucleocrinus meloniformis

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Submitted on 2007-03-25 by David Thompson

Location (approximate): Alpena, Alpena, MI

Strat unit: Thunder Bay formation

Submitter notes: This is a side view of the Nucleocrinus m. showing Ambulacrum and detail of plates. 10 cent piece for scale. Although collected at Partridge Point, the formation is the Thunder Bay limestone.

Photo title: Second View of Blastoid

Taxa present: Nucleocrinus meloniformis

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