Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Mellita quinqiuesperforata echinoid from Texas

I don't typically collect fossils from the Pleistocene epoch as too often the fossils are nearly the same as what one finds on the beaches today. This specimen of Mellita quinquiesperforata is a perfect example. While M. quinquiesperforata is an extant (still living) species, the specimen below comes from 15,000 year old Pleistocene deposits along the Gulf Coast near Corpus Cristi, Texas.

Adapical (top) surface
Posterior
Adoral (bottom) surface
Side profile 1
Side profile 2

Here are modern specimens that I collected on a beach near Tampa Bay, Florida a few years ago.


No comments:

Post a Comment