re. [was echinoid poo now] scaphopod fossils

[Thomas Yancey]

Tony,

The fossils are not scaphopod steinkerns. Scaphopods will have
circular cross sections in nearly all cases, not flattened cross
section. Also, the strong taper at the narrow end is wrong for
scaphopods, which keep the apical (adaperture) end open. I suspect
you are looking at pteropod steinkerns, although they are fairly
large.

Tom Yancey


>Many thanks to everyone who made suggestions as to the identity of the
>strange fossils which I thought might be echinoid poo. Everyone has agreed
>that they're not that, and the majority of suggestions favour scaphopod
>shell infills. Pictures of the fossils and details about the deposits can be
>viewed at
>http://www.btinternet.com/~anthonyirwin/echinoid_poo/
>[note that this url has changed]
>
>There are still some doubts as to their identity, so if anyone has further
>suggestions, or knows of an expert on scaphopod internal shell morphology
>...
>
>Tony Irwin
>
>Dr A.G.Irwin, Natural History Department, Castle Museum Study Centre,
>Shirehall, Market Avenue, Norwich NR1 3JQ, England.
>Tel:+44 1603 493642. E-mail: tony.irwin at btinternet.com