The FOSSILETTER. Rhipidomella Species in the Middle Devonian of New York By Dan Krisher. VOL. 22 Number 2 November 2004

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1 A publication of the Rochester Academy of Science FOSSIL SECTION The FOSSILETTER VOL. 22 Number 2 November 2004 Rhipidomella Species in the Middle Devonian of New York By Dan Krisher For well over a hundred years the Middle Devonian gray shales of western and central New York have produced the fossilized remains of an extensive marine fauna. A major portion of this fauna is comprised of Brachiopods with over 90 genera and 160 species being represented. The orthid brachiopod Rhipidomella is a common and easily recognized example of this group. While it is quite easy to make identification to the generic level for Rhipidomella, extending the identification to the species level can prove difficult. The following species descriptions will, it is hoped, assist the collector in making species identifications for this genus. The written description for each species includes the species name, statigraphic range and an outline of the pertinent physical features which distinguish the species. Rhipidomella vanuxemi Occurrence: Marcellus, Skaneateles, Ludlowville, Moscow and Tully Formations. Overall shell shape is sub-circular to sub-oval. The pedicle valve (= valve through which the pedicle emerges) is almost flat to slightly concave but with a slight convexity near the umbo (= the beak of the valve). The brachial valve (= valve which contained the lophopore feeding apparatus) is convex in form. The interior of the pedicle valve is marked by large oval muscle scars with pronounced scalloping at the edges. Rhipidomella penelope Occurrence: Marcellus, Skaneateles, Ludlowville and Moscow Formations Overall the shell tends to be large with the width being greater than the length. The pedicle valve is flat to slightly concave with a slightly convexity near the umbo. The brachial valve is evenly convex. The muscle scars on the shell interior are smaller and rounder than those found in R. vanuxemi. Rhipidomella idoneus Occurrence: Ludlowville and Moscow Formations. Occurrences are rare in both formations Overall shell shape is nearly circular. Both valves are of nearly equal convexity. The pedicle valve tends to 1

2 be somewhat flatted near the anterior edge while the brachial valve is slightly more convex. Rhipidomella cyclas Occurrence: Marcellus, Skaneateles, Ludlowville, Moscow and Tully Formations. This species is distinguished by its overall small size. Both the length and width of a typical specimen are on the order of 15 mm. Overall shape of the shell is circular but with a relatively straight cardinal margin (= posterior portion of the shell homologous with the hinge line of a strophic shell) which extends for nearly half the width of the shell References: Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part H, Brachiopoda, Editor Moore Devonian Paleontology of New York (1994) D. M. Linsley, Paleontological Research Institution, Special Publication 21 Paleontology of 18 Mile Creek and the Lake Shore Sections of Erie County, New York (1899) A. W. Grabau, Bull. Of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, Vol. VI The Future of Life in the Universe By John Handley documentary (and companion book), The Future Wild, Paul outlined the history and future of the universe from the Big Bang through its inevitable heat death where all energy is evenly distributed throughout the universe. Focusing on our sun and planet, Paul described the conditions required for life to evolve and described a plausible future for this planet at 5, 100 and 200 million years into the future, including vivid depictions of possible future animals. These creatures including the snowstalker, the toraton, and the sharkopath, can be viewed at Paul explained the Drake equation which provides an estimate of the number of technologically advanced civilizations in our galaxy. Paul then speculated on how our life on our planet might survive our sun becoming a red giant in about 5 billion years. It is unlikely but possible for another star to force our planet from its orbit and life might survive near volcanic vents underneath a nearly frozen ocean. Ultimately, all planetary life is doomed, but it might hold out longer in some exotic form in the atmospheres of white dwarf stars. VolcanoCam Provided by Kym Pocius The ongoing volcanic events at Mt. Saint Helens can be monitored by following the URL links to the Johnston Ridge Observatory s VolcanoCam. The camera image updates every 5 minutes. Section member Paul Forcella presented a talk The Future of Life in the Universe at our October 5 th meeting. Drawing from books and the msh/ 2

3 NYSGA Fieldtrip Guidebooks Alert Provided By Karl Wilson Karl discovered a week or two ago that the NYSGA Fieldtrip Guidebooks for 1956 through 1969 are available free online as.pdf s. The URL is: tm They are a hefty 138 meg, but fit easily on a CD-ROM. The Bookshelf Collecting Fossils in Maryland (1979) By J. D. Glaser, Department of Natural Resources: Maryland Geological Survey, Educational Series No. 4 If you have never collected in Maryland, this book provides an excellent overview of the strata and phyla that can be found in the state. Included are maps and locality descriptions for Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, Paleocene, Eocene and Miocene localities. Miocene Fossils of Maryland (reprinted 1982) By H. E. Vokes, Department of Natural Resources: Maryland Geological Survey, Bulletin 20 A thorough overview of the Miocene strata and fauna of the Maryland Miocene. Included are descriptions and line drawing of the most common bivalves and gastropods. Miocene Text And Plates (reprinted 1973) By W. B. Clark, Department of Natural Resources: Maryland Geological Survey The bible for the identification of Miocene fossils in Maryland. The 2 volume set contains excellent descriptions and line drawings for all taxa identified at the time the original was published in Environmental History of the Maryland Miocene (reprinted 1977) By R. E. Germant, T. G. Gibson and F. C. Whitmore, Geological Society of America Field Trip No. 5 A detailed discussion of the paleogeography, paleosedimentation and paleoecology of the Maryland Miocene. RAS Fall Paper Session Saturday, November 6 th At Monroe Community College Registration at 8:30AM in the foyer of Building 8 Featured Talk: The Cardiff Giant By Richard Hammel Associate Professor Geosciences Monroe Community College 3

4 CALENDER OF EVENTS November Tuesday 02, FOSSIL MEETING 7:30 PM Community Meeting Room, Brighton Town Hall. Speaker: Professor Nan Crystal Arens/Hobart & William Colleges. Dark and Disturbed: A New Image of Early Flowering Plants. December Tuesday 07, FOSSIL MEETING 7:30 PM Community Meeting Room, Brighton Town Hall. Annual Fossil Section Show and Tell. Visitors welcome to all Fossil Section meetings! Refreshments served. Contact John Handley (W), (C) for more information or check the RAS Website ( for the latest updates. 4

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Rochester Academy of Science FOSSIL SECTION Daniel Krisher Fossiletter Editor 416 Bromley Road Churchville, NY 14428 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FOSSIL SECTION Monthly meetings are held the first

6 Rochester Academy of Science FOSSIL SECTION Daniel Krisher Fossiletter Editor 416 Bromley Road Churchville, NY ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FOSSIL SECTION Monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from October-- June at 7:30 pm at the Brighton Town Hall, Community Meeting Room, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY. OFFICERS PHONE President. Linda Heffron Vice President/Program Chair. John Handley Secretary.. Dan Krisher Treasurer. Stan Spector Director (three-year-term) Lee Tutt Director (two-year-term) John Honan Director (one-year-term)... Ellen Gendreau APPOINTED POSITIONS Field Trip Coordinator... Anne-Roth Blizzard FossiLetter Editor Dan Krisher The Fossiletter is published during each meeting month of the year. Please send submissions to Dan Krisher preferably via at or by snail-mail to 416 Bromley Road, Rochester, NY Deadline date for submissions to the Fossiletter is the 15 th of the month. For scheduling changes and the latest updates please check the Ras Website ( and click on the Fossil Section link. Last minutes updates can also be found on the General Announcements page of the Academy Website. 6

EARTH S HISTORY. What is Geology? logy: science. Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, including its:

EARTH S HISTORY. What is Geology? logy: science. Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, including its: EARTH S HISTORY 1 What is Geology? Geo: earth logy: science Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, including its: composition, structure, and physical properties. 2 1 Geologists study: the origin