A silicified specimen of Protodouvillina inaequistriata from the Centerfield formation of New York

I've blogged before about Protodouvillina inaequistriata specimens from the Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation in New York in a prior post. Today I'm showing off a silicified specimen that I found in the dissolved remains of some limestone from the same locality. It is in great condition, has both valves and  an interesting color pattern. I think the pattern is related to how much of the original shell was actually replaced with quartz. The shell also has some very nice looking "Beekite" rings

Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Profile

As I mentioned above, this specimen has been replaced with quartz and I dissolved it from a limestone block using dilute Hydrochloric Acid. It comes from the Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near East Bethany, NY.

Delthyris sculptilis brachiopod from the Centerfield Fm.

Today's fossil is Delthyris sculptilis which is an appropriate name due to the high relief and heavy decoration on the shell. D. sculptilis has a long hinge line connecting the pedicle and brachial valves. Each valve is deeply incised by plications to the point that there does not appear to be a lot of room for the body. The shell has very obvious growth lines that help decorate the shell and perhaps prevented predators or parasites from gaining a foothold.

Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

This specimen came from the Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near East Bethany NY. I've posted before about this species from the Hungry Hollow mbr. of the Widder formation (Contemporaneous with the Centerfield mbr.) and a similar species from the Irondequoit limestone. Delthyis is also similar to Kozlowskiellina velata from the Haragan formation of Oklahoma.

Platyceras conicum from the Centerfield member

Among my recent finds from the Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation is this specimen of Platycers conicum. As you can see it has a very vertical profile with little to no curving of the shell. As it is well known that some species of Platyceras were parasites of Crinoids, by stationing themselves directly above the anal pore so as to get free meals, perhaps this conical shape was adapted towards a specific Crinoid species?

I've found similar examples in the Hungry Hollow member of the Widder formation in Canada.

Aulocystis auloporidea coral from the Centerfield limestone

One of the sites I visit, that exposes the Centerfield limestone, has chunks of limestone in which the fossils contained within are partially replaced by Quartz. The easiest way to expose these fossils is by dissolving the surrounding limestone with acid. The specimen below is from the residue of such a piece of limestone. It is an interconnected series of coral calices that I believe is Aulocystis auloporideas. I made the ID after visiting this page at the Falls of Ohio website, but it seems to disagree with a specimen that I have from the Silica Shale. So I will keep the label as is for now in hopes of getting a more accurate ID in the future.

The specimen above came from limestone that belonged to the Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near East Bethany, NY.

Rhipidomella vanuxemi brachiopod from the Centerfield member

One of the two main species of the Rhipidomella genus found in the middle Devonian is Rhipidomella vanuxemi. It's fairly common and can be distinguished from the similar species R. penelope as it is typically smaller in size and the shape of the shell is less ovate. The fossil below is partially replaced by Quartz which is why the shell has some gray (Calcite) and white (Quartz) patches. It was found in the Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation and is fairly common.

Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Here is a second specimen which has a rare predation hole in the pedicle valve.

Brachial valve

 Anterior

 Pedicle valve

 Closer view of the hole

 Posterior

 Profile

The Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville formation records a portion of the Givetian stage of the Devonian period.

Favosites hamiltoniae from the Centerfield member

Here is a nice palm sized colony of Favosites hamiltoniae that I found in the Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville formation near East Bethany. It is partially replaced by Quartz which is why it has a sort of patchy look on the dorsal surface. Some of the corallites are missing while others have some nice detail preserved of the septal spines.

Dorsal surface

Ventral surface... the epitheca is very well preserved with just a few missing pieces.

Side profiles

Close up of the dorsal surface where you can see some of the septal spines.

The Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville formation records a portion of the Givetian stage of the Devonian period.

Favosites argus tabulate coral from the Centerfield Member

Occasionally I come across large coral colonies while digging in the eroded remains of the Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville Formation near East Bethany, NY. The specimen below is fairly large at approximately 8" across by 4" wide. I think this is a colony of Favosites argus because of the small cell size of the corallites.

Dorsal surface

Profile

Ventral surface

Ventral surface detail

Dorsal surface details.

The Centerfield member of the Ludlowville formation is dated to the middle Devonian (Givetain stage).

Platyceras and Nanticonema gastropods from the Centerfield Mbr. of New York

I have not found too many Gastropods in the Centerfield mbr. of the Ludlowville Formation, but when I do it's just two genera: Platyceras and Nanticonema (formerly Platystoma).

This is a small Platyceras sp. gastropod

And this is a typical Nanticonema sp. gastropod.

Both specimens were found near East Bethany, NY. The Ludlowville Formation is Devonian in age (Givetian stage).