Mystery Fossils

1. Data: Hi, Can somebody help identify these small fossils (shells?) that I found in Yemen...Thanks..........Jim.

Send Ideas to: Jim


1.

The Gastropod fossil (excluding the matrix) is about 4" high and about 2 1/2" across....I found this fossil in the Hadramout area of South Yemen. The general terrain consists of ancient sedementary rocks.


2.

This fish fossil is about 6" long. ...I found this fossil in the Hadramout area of South Yemen. The general terrain consists of ancient sedementary rocks.


3.

I found these fossils, in the desert in North Yemen (Middle East) The large ones are approx. 1/2" long and about 1/4" in diameter. Apart from this, I really do not have any information.

Identified:
1. trochid or pleurotomariid ... Andrew G.


2. Not a fish; but imprint of a surface(probably not fossil) ... Andrew G.


3. probably large Foraminiferida (single-celled organism) ... Andrew G.

 

Discussions:

  • Jim's first fossil seems to be a trochiform gastropod such as a pleurotomariid, trochid, or xenophorid. I can't tell anything about the second. The third set might be some sort of seed-any chance of better resolution? Are they uniformly ribbed all the way around and circular in cross section, or do they show other features?...David C.

  • The vaguely fish shaped mass is more likely to be a split open concretion (not a fossil) than a fish. I agree with David C's other determinations...Allen A.

 

 

 

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