November meetiing - MAAST fossil dig 11/20

[zerreissen]

lots of shells, a couple of spiny urchins and a bunch of mystery balls (what are they?)

The shells you found could be gastropods (such as Tylostoma sp., Pseudomelania sp., Nerinea sp., Anchura sp., etc.), oysters, or scallops (Neithea sp.).
The echinoids you found would include spiny urchins (Salenia texana), and you may have found some other flat, irregular urchins with a starfish looking imprint on them, those are likely either Heteraster sp. or Macraster sp.
The "mystery balls" are Porocystis globularis. As Ace had said, there is some debate whether they are sponges or algal fruiting bodies, however, the most recent theories are the latter.
You may have also found some tube worms (similar to feather dusters) and some very small discs which are microfossils (Orbitolina texana), and various clams which are commonly called deer hearts.

Ace, the bivalve with the ammonite looking lines that you found is most likely Trigona bruquiere.

I didn't take much home as I was being pretty picky, but I did happen to snag two pieces of crab claws.


The wife and I had a lot of fun (especially me as I've had an itch to go hunting again recently)! Thanks for putting this together Ace!