Chonetes sp. brachiopod from Germany

These next specimens are a species of Chonetes that come from the Kerpen mbr. of the Cürten Formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near Sötenich, Germany. They resemble the Devonochonetes scitulus that I find in my local Devonian rocks such as the Mahantango Formation of Pennsylvania or the Arkona and Widder Formations in Ontario.

Specimen #1 Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Profile

Specimen #2 Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Profile

Thanks to Nils for the specimens.

Spinatrypa curvirostra brachiopod from Germany

Spinatrypa curvirostra is a species of brachiopod from the Rodert member of the Cürten Formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near Sötenich, Germany. I can directly compare it to specimens of S. spinoa from the Windom shale of New York (with and without spines preserved) as well as S. aspera from Poland and S. rockfordensis from Iowa. It is generally smaller and less robust than most specimens I have found in the Windom shale but retains the same general look with it's growth lines that resemble pie crust.

Specimen #1 Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Specimen #2 Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Thanks to Nils for these specimens.

Undispirider givefex brachiopod from Germany

Another of the fossils that Nils sent me as part of our exchange is this Undispirider givefex from the Rodert member of the Cürten Formation (Devonian, Givetian stage) near Sötenich, Germany.

Superficially it resembles and Athryis type brachiopod but there are some minor plications present that help distinguish it.

Specimen #1 Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Profile

Specimen #2 Brachial valve

Anterior

Pedicle valve

Posterior

Profile

Thanks go out to Nils for these fossils.

Quadrithyris macrorhynchia brachiopod from Germany

This next brachiopod fossil is a little rough but you can get the general idea of what it looked like. It's Quadrithyris macrorhynchia from the Nims member of the Junkerberg Formation (Devonian, Eifelian stage) near Rommersheim, Germany. It looks a little like an Athyris vittata but compressed between the anterior and posterior ends. There are some very fine growth lines on the surface of the shell that are more obvious in the view of the brachial valve.

Pedicle valve

Anterior

Brachial valve

Posterior

Left profile

Right profile

Thanks to Nils for the specimen.

Macgeea bathycalyx coral from Germany

I really like this coral fossil of Macgeea bathycalyx. It comes from the Nims member of the Junkerberg Formation (Devonian, Eifelian stage) near Rommersheim, Germany. It is an interesting fossil because it looks like a typical rugose coral, with a typical horn shape and cup, but the septae extend on both sides of the cup rather than being confined to the interior. Macgeea bathycalyx is a member of the Phillipsastreidae family of rugose corals and is related to Pachyphyllum sp. corals such as this Pachyphyllum woodmani from the upper Devonian of Iowa.

It's interesting to note that the genera Macgeea is found in the US but moreso in the upper Devonian (Fransian stage) rather than the lower to middle Devonian where this specimen comes from. It may be a transplant species that spread as continents came together in the late Paleozoic era.

Thanks to Nils for this specimen.