Fossils (Inventory)
From LagWiki
Unidentified
The unidentified field is used to record stations where a fossil is clearly seen, but cannot be identified by the inventory team. Fossils which can be identified but for which there is no specific field on the form may also be inventoried here with a note. There is no "other" field in the fossils section.
The sea urchin spine seen at the same station in this photo should be inventoried here with a note as there is not a pre-set category for it on the form. The same with the echinoid fossil in the photo below.
Photos should be taken of unidentified fossils whenever possible to be used to help identify it with outside assistance.
Example
Fossils
- Unidentified: GG39 (photo JF-#1036 & Sea Urchin Spine)
Unidentified, Fossils
 Echinoid spine and base |
Algae
The Algae field of the Fossils section should be used to record any observation of fossil algae.
There are about a dozen different types of algae that have been identified in the Guadalupes through fossil impressions. They appear as thin, multiple uniform layers. They may be straight, tightly curved, or stacked. They can be found in the massive reef or forereef.
References
- Coleman, Mary Carol and Cameron Coleman (2010) Fossils of Guadalupe Mountains National Park Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association pp 10-12, http://www.ccgma.org
Brachiopod
The Brachiopod field of the Fossils section should be used to record any observation of fossil brachiopods.
Brachiopods are marine animals with a hinged, two-part shell on the top and bottom as opposed to the left and right arrangement of clams. They are, therefore, a bivalve but are not really related to other bivalve mollusks. Brachiopods also have a coiled, rigid cartilaginous internal structure called a lophophore, which sometimes appears in fossils.
Brachiopods and clams are sometimes difficult to distinguish as fossils. If the impression is bilaterally symmetrical, it is probably a brachiopod. If asymmetrical, it is probably a clam.
Brachiopod impressions can occur in large clusters.
See also
References
- Romero, Aldemaro (2009) Cave Biology; Life in Darkness Cambridge University Press, New York p 89 ISBN-Hardback: 978-0-521-82846-8, ISBN-Paperback: 978-0-521-53553-3
- Coleman, Mary Carol and Cameron Coleman (2010) Fossils of Guadalupe Mountains National Park Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association pp 23-26, http://www.ccgma.org
Bryozoan
The Bryozoan field of the Fossils section should be used to record stations where a bryozoan fossil is found.
Bryozoan fossils have a diverse variety of appearances. Some look like pieces of broken twigs with possible branches. Others appear as mesh like patterns and textures. Others appear as a screw-like spiral shape.
Dendrite, Manganese
 Bryozoan |
Cephalopod
The Cephalopod field should be used to list stations which exhibit cephalopod fossils.
Cephalopod fossils are characterized by a chambered shell. They are coiled in one plane or straight and tapered with internal chambers. They are usually found in exposed bedrock or breakdown and may be obscured in various ways. They could be covered partially or completely by secondary formations and they could be exposed in any direction or in any cross section.
There are two major groups of cephalopods, ammonoids and nautiloids. There is no reason to distinguish these on the inventory form, they are both cephalopods.
Ammonoids have a spiral shell, coiled in one plane with internal chambers that may be wavy or complicated. In vertical cross section, the chambers may appear like a spiral of progressively smaller circular voids. They are uncommon but can be found in various places.
Nautiloids have a spiral shell, coiled in one plane with curved internal chambers. These are commonly referred to as a chambered nautilus or chambered nautiloid. The interior chambers are smoothly curved.
Cephalopods can also have a straight, tapered, not coiled, shell.
If a shell impression is found (not a clam or brachiopod) with internal chambers, it is probably a cephalopod. If there are no internal chambers, it is probably a gastropod. If the interior of the shell cannot be seen, a shell with logorithmically spaced indications of internal chambers is probably a cephalopod. A shell with a smooth exterior or fine, more evenly spaced growth rings is probably a gastropod. If the shell is straight, tapered, and not coiled, it is probably a cephalopod. If the shell is coiled but not in one plane, it is probably a gastropod.
The size of cephalopod fossil impressions can vary greatly.
Cephalopods can leave fossil impressions with no shell. Tentacles like a squid or octopus are the clue to look for. These shell-less impressions are usually hard to recognize and identify, especially in bedrock exposed by dissolution or erosion.
See also
References
- Palmer, Arthur N. (2007) Cave Geology CAVE BOOKS, Dayton, OH pp 71-72 ISBN-13: 978-0-939748-66-2, ISBN-10: 0-939748-66-5
- Coleman, Mary Carol and Cameron Coleman (2010) Fossils of Guadalupe Mountains National Park Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association pp 13-19, http://www.ccgma.org
Cephalopod, Fossils
 Horizontal cross section of a cephalopod |
 Vertical cross section of an ammonoid, a type of cephalopod |
Clam
The Clam field of the Fossils section should be used to record any observation of a fossil clam. For purposes of the CCNP Cave Inventory Form, a clam refers to any bivalve mollusk (not a brachiopod).
Clams and brachiopods are superficially similar. They both have a hinged shell consisting of two valves. In brachiopods, the two valves are on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body and are symmetrical, while in clams, they are on the left and right sides and are asymmetrical. Other than their superficial similarities, they are not really related.
Clams and brachiopods are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The primary distinguishing characteristic is symmetry in the shell. Clams have an asymmetrical shell while brachiopods have a symmetrical shell. Clams are also known as pelecypods.
See also
References
- Romero, Aldemaro (2009) Cave Biology; Life in Darkness Cambridge University Press, New York pp 89-90 ISBN-Hardback: 978-0-521-82846-8, ISBN-Paperback: 978-0-521-53553-3
- Coleman, Mary Carol and Cameron Coleman (2010) Fossils of Guadalupe Mountains National Park Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association pp 27-28, http://www.ccgma.org
Coral
Crinoid
The Crinoid field should be used to record stations where crinoid fossils are found.
Crinoids are a marine animal which may be preserved in the bedrock as fossils. These fossils may then be exposed.
A complete crinoid looks like a lily with what appear to be roots, a stem and a flower; but, they are not plants but animals. Any portion may be exposed as a fossil; but, usually, the fossils are a cross section of the long stem and it appears like a stack of buttons.
Crinoids may be difficult to recognize and obscured by other formations. Look for them anywhere bedrock is exposed including breakdown.
References
- Palmer, Arthur N. (2007) Cave Geology CAVE BOOKS, Dayton, OH p 72 ISBN-13: 978-0-939748-66-2, ISBN-10: 0-939748-66-5
Crinoid, Fossils
 Crinoid stem |
Fusulinid
The Fusilinid field of the Fossils section should be used to list stations which possess fusulinids.
Fusulinids are the largest of single celled fossils and are typically described as looking like grains of rice.
References
- unknown (1997) Geology of Carlsbad Caverns Class - 1997 Memorial Day Expedition p 5
Fusulinid, Fossils
 Fusulinids altered to crystals |
Gastropod
The Gastropod field of the Fossils section should be used to record any observation of a fossil gastropod.
Gastropod fossils are characterized by a tapered spiral shell with no internal chambers. Snails are gastropods. They are usually found in exposed bedrock or breakdown and may be obscured in various ways. They could be covered partially or completely by secondary formations and they could be exposed in any direction or in any cross section. They can be flat or more elongated but are always spiraled and tapered somewhat. The spiral is usually in more than one plane.
If a spiral shell impression is found (not a clam or brachiopod) with no internal chambers, it is probably a gastropod. If there are internal chambers, it is probably a cephalopod. If the interior of the shell cannot be seen, a shell with no growth rings or fine, evenly spaced growth rings is probably a gastropod. A shell impression which is spiraled in more than one plane is probably a gastropod.
The size of gastropod fossil impressions can vary.
See also
References
- Palmer, Arthur N. (2007) Cave Geology CAVE BOOKS, Dayton, OH pp 71-72 ISBN-13: 978-0-939748-66-2, ISBN-10: 0-939748-66-5
- Coleman, Mary Carol and Cameron Coleman (2010) Fossils of Guadalupe Mountains National Park Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Mountains Association pp 20-22, http://www.ccgma.org
Sponge
