Upper Santonian Guide Fossils

The fossils below were found in the Smoky Hill Member of the Blue Gate Shale (Mancos Group) in east central Utah. 

Desmoscaphites bassleri Reeside 1927, from the upper Upper Santonian.

Uintacrinus socialis Grinnel. 1876, from the middle Upper Santonian.

As reported in a poster by Bylund, Scheetz, and Kittrick, 2025

Scaphites leei Reeside, 1927, form I Cobban, 1969, also from the middle Upper Santonian,

Clioscaphites choteauensis Cobban, 1952, from the lower Upper Santonian.

Except for the crinoids they are all external molds of the shell.

Early Dienerian Ammonoids

Gyronites rigidus (Diener) 1897

 EARLY DIENERIAN AMMONOIDS AND NAUTILOIDS AND A NEW LATE GRIESBACHIAN AMMONOID SITE FROM THE DINWOODY FORMATION (THAYNES GROUP) AT CRITTENDEN SPRINGS, ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA James F Jenks, Takumi Maekawa, Yasunari Shigeta, David Ware, Arnaud Brayard, Kevin G Bylund, Daniel A Stephen, Noreen Kittrick, 2025

Clioscaphites from the Emery Sandstone

The Emery Sandstone

    The Emery Sandstone as exposed in western Emery County, Utah consists of 4 or 5 thin sandstone beds that thicken rapidly sub-surface to the west.  Cephalopods preserved in the formation, mostly as internal molds, include the Nautiloid Eutrephoceras sp., and the ammonites Placenticeras syrtale, Baculites codyensis, and Clioscaphites vermiformis in the lower beds and Desmoscaphites bassleri in the uppermost bed.  Desmoscaphites bassleri Reeside, 1927, is an Index Fossil for the Upper Santonian (Upper Cretaceous), Clioscaphites vermiformis (Meek & Hayden, 1862), for the Middle Santonian, and C. saxitonianus (Mclearn, 1929) for the Lower Santonian.

    The trouble with finding only a few fossils in a few beds is that intermediates always seem to creep into the section.  The main difference between C. vermiformis and the underlying C. saxitonianus is the strength of the sculpture, pointed tubercles in C. vermiformis, and insipient nodes in C. saxitonianus. The lobe of the suture is another difference, being trifid in C. vermiformis and mostly bifid in C. saxitonianus, but rarely preserved in Emery fossils because the phragmocones are usually crushed.

    Below are photos and 3D models of a couple of fossils from the lower Emery Sandstone (Garley Canyon Beds).  The upper photos show a typical C. vermiformis with its strong sculpture and pointed tubercles. The lower photos show a specimen from the lowest bed of the Emery, still with strong sculpture but without a pointed tubercle, more of a strong 90° rib.  The sculpture on the lower specimen is stronger than typical C. saxitonianus, even stronger than C. saxitonianus var. keytei Cobban, 1952 (which by itself could be a new species).  Not being one to split, it's probably best to leave it in C. vermiformis for now and just consider it an intermediate until more specimens or one showing the suture can be found.

Clioscaphites vermiformis.  Specimen, left, 3D Model, right.  From a sandstone bed in the middle of the Emery Sandstone.

Clioscaphites ?vermiformis, Specimen, left, 3D model, right.  From the lowest sandstone bed in the Emery Sandstone.

More Taxonomy

A new paper just out trying to update the nomenclature and authorship of ammonoids:

The higher taxonomic nomenclature of Devonian to Cretaceous ammonoids and Jurassic to Cretaceous ammonites including their authorship and publication

Hoffmann, René; Howarth, Michael K.; Fuchs, Dirk; Klug, Christian; Korn, Dieter

It may be the latest but it won't be the last.  I'm sure that just like those back in the fifties they're getting close to something natural. This should last 70 years just like the old scheme, with plenty of differing options in the interim.  

Cephalopod Phylogenetics

The more things are found to be the same the more they are found to be different. It may never end

Pohle et al. BMC Biology (2022) 20:88 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-022-01284-5

Latest Smithian Ammonoids in northern Utah

Corroborating the existence of a UAZ6 (Unitary Association Zone, a means of biostratigraphic correlation).  See the paper linked below.  Characterized by the ammonoid Psudosageceras augustum (Brayard & Bucher, 2008) in association with Xenoceltites subevolutus Spath 1930. Found in rocks previously assigned to the Induan (lower Lower Triassic) Dinwoody Fm., now assigned to the Olenekian (upper Lower Triassic, top of Smithian) Thaynes Group.

Pseudosageceras augustum left and Xenoceltites subevolutus right

Xenoceltites subevolutus left and Pseudosageceras augustum right

In press, Article in GEOBIOS

Available online 18 June 2021

Abstract

The late Smithian extinction represents a major event within the Early Triassic. This event generally corresponds to a succession of two and possibly three successively less diverse, cosmopolitan ammonoid assemblages, which when present, provide a robust biostratigraphic framework and precise correlations at different spatial scales. In the western USA basin, known occurrences of latest Smithian taxa are rare and until now, have only been documented from northeastern Nevada. Based on these restricted basinal occurrences, a regional zone representing the latest Smithian was postulated but not corroborated, as representative taxa had not yet been reported from outside Nevada. Here we document two new ammonoid assemblages from distant localities in northern Utah, overlying the late Smithian Anasibirites beds and characterized by the unambiguous co-occurrence of Xenoceltites subevolutus and Pseudosageceras augustum. The existence of a latest Smithian zone in the western USA basin is therefore validated, facilitating the identification of the Smithian/Spathian boundary and intra-basin correlation. This zone also correlates with the latest Smithian zone recognized from southern Tethyan basins. Additionally, these new data support other observed occurrences of Xenoceltites subevolutus throughout most of the late Smithian.

Dinwoody Ammonoids & Nautiloids

LATE GRIESBACHIAN (EARLY TRIASSIC) AMMONOIDS AND NAUTILOIDS FROM THE DINWOODY FORMATION AT CRITTENDEN SPRINGS, ELKO COUNTY, NEVADA

by

JAMES F. JENKS, TAKUMI MAEKAWA, DAVID WARE, YASUNARI SHIGETA, ARNAUD BRAYARD and KEVIN G. BYLUND

Abstract—We document a relatively small but very important late Griesbachian ammonoid and nautiloid assemblage from the Dinwoody Formation at Crittenden Springs, Elko County, Nevada. This discovery represents the first significant report of late Griesbachian ammonoids in the low-paleolatitudes of eastern Panthalassa, and it also signifies the first report of Wordieoceras wordiei and two co-occurring taxa outside of the Boreal Realm. This similarity in ammonoid faunas, irrespective of paleolatitude, provides support for the concept of weak latitudinal diversity gradients following the end-Permian extinction. The finding is even more noteworthy given the Dinwoody Formation’s reputation for poor fossil preservation and a near complete absence of documented and identifiable ammonoid and nautiloid occurrences. Consisting of four taxa of which two are newly described, the ammonoid fauna includes Wordieoceras wordiei (Spath), Kyoktites cf. K. hebeiseni Ware and Bucher, Wordieoceras mullenae n. sp. and a new taxon belonging to the Mullericeratidae family, Ophimullericeras paullae n. gen., n. sp. The nautiloids are attributed to a newly described species, i.e., Xiaohenautilus mulleni n. sp., a genus heretofore unknown in eastern Panthalassa but commonly reported from the late Griesbachian of South Primorye and the late Griesbachian/early Dienerian of South China.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science Bulletin 86

Paris Biota Ammonoids & Nautiloids

 A very late post

Ammonoids and nautiloids from the earliest Spathian Paris Biota and other early Spathian localities in southeastern Idaho, USA

Arnaud Brayard, James F. Jenks, Kevin G.Bylund and the Paris Biota Team 2019

Part of a Special Volume dedicated to the Paris Biota of SE Idaho.

Some Prionitids Lumped

With a few very narrowly defined species, The Prionitidae is a family of very closely related ammonoids.  However most collections, especially from the western US, always contained "Prionitid" or "Prionitid indet.", Prionitids with bullae or ribs, maybe nodes or tubercles, that just didn't fit with any of the other described genera or species.  With new collections from the Smithian (Early Triassic) Sinbad Formation around the Utah/Arizona border, we were able to synonymize all these with ammonoids described in 1929 by Asa Mathews.  By priority, Gurleyites smithi Mathews 1929 replaces Arctoprionites resseri (Mathews 1929).  With a very wide range of intraspecific variation, the new taxon will fit just about anything that doesn't fit in one of the other defined taxa.

See our new paper here.

New middle and late Smithian ammonoid faunas from the Utah/Arizona border: New evidence for calibrating Early Triassic transgressive-regressive trends and paleobiogeographical signals in the western USA basin

 

 

Giant Cephalopod Midden or Mosasaur Feces

Back in 2011, and again in 2013,  Mark and Dianna McMenamin postulated a giant cephalopod created a midden with the bones of Icthyosaurs.  The internet came alive with much fanfare,  comments, news, etc. probably because of the size the cephalopod would have had to been to form such a midden.

Well, back in 1954 two well-known cephalopod paleontologists, John B. Reeside and William A. Cobban (one prominent then, and one then becoming prominent), postulated  that concretions in the Mowry and Aspen Shales were possibly "fecal matter of some large carnivore--reptile, fish or cephalopod", and "The diet of the carnivore would have had to be almost entirely ammonites and fish, and the carnivore would perhaps, like the living octopus, have had to frequent a sort of lair, to which it repaired and in which the mucous-bound fecal matter could accumulate" (Reeside & Cobban 1954, 1960).

Some of these concretions were over 2 meters in diameter, so you have a mosasaur like that in the movie Jurassic World, a very large fish, or another Kraken.  Though nowhere near the size of the Triassic Kraken.

I wonder, had there been the internet in 1954, would there have been the same or similar response?

Plate 28 from Reeside & Cobban 1960

The fossils were found in fossiliferous concretions containing thousands of ammonites, along with a few bivalves and bones of a few fish and a few pterodactyls in some.  These fossiliferous concretions were rare among the many non-fossiliferous concretions.  The authors reported that some concretions contained well over 4200 ammonites, from 10mm to 400mm in diameter, and these probably represented less than half the original content.  Most fossils were preserved in 3D with most of the living chambers crushed or missing, and some had damage to the phragmocone.

It was these fossils that Reeside and Cobban used in their 1960 paper to show the advantages of a population approach in taxonomy to a strictly typological one, especially for ammonoids with a large amount of intraspecific variation.  A significant moment for the lumpers of the world.

References:

McMemamin, M. A. S., and McMenamin, D. L. S., 2011.  Triassic Kraken: The Berlin Icthyosaur Death Assemblage Interpreted as a Giant Cephalopod Midden: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 310

McMemamin, M. A. S., and McMenamin, D. L. S., 2013.  The Kraken's Back: New Evidence Regarding Possible Cephalopod Arrangement of Icthyosaur Skeletons: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 45, No. 7, p. 900

Reeside, J. B., Jr., and Cobban, W. A., 1954. Ammonite accumulations in the Cretaceous Mowry and Aspen shales: Science, v. 119, p. 255.

Reeside, J. B., Jr., and Cobban, W. A., 1960. Studies of the Mowry Shale (Cretaceous) and Contemporary formations in the United States and Canada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 355, 126 p.

Ammonoid Family Reunions (revised Feb. 11, 2021)

Two family reunions occurred in the distant past, the Prionitids and the Cardioceratids, this is a short review of those events.  The thing that draws attention to these two reunions is that members of the two families gathered in abundance and almost to the mutual exclusion of other families.  Both are recorded in rocks representing a relatively short time-span, a single biozone, the smallest standard unit used in biostratigraphy, representing a few hundred thousand years more or less.

PRIONITIDAE Hyatt, 1900:

Prionitids

About 251mya the Family Prionitidae met in what is now the western USA.  This event took place all over the world (? Tethys and northern Panthalassa), but for this report I will stick to the event and those attending in the western US.  This Family started with the Genus Meekoceras in the Early Smithian and culminated with the family reunion in the Late Smithian with at least 6 species in 4 genera with a few in open nomenclature.

·         Anasibirites Mojsisovics, 1896                     2 species

·         Hemiprionites Spath, 1929                            2 species

·         Wasatchites Mathews, 1929                          1 species

·         Gurleyites Mathews, 1929                            1 species

With a few Xenoceltitids and Hedenstroemiids.  (See Brayard et al. 2013, Jattiot et al. 2017, Mathews 1929, Smith 1932, for composition of the fauna and Jattiot et al. 2015 for a revision of Anasibirites, Brayard et al. 2020 for a revision of Gurleyites) Recorded in the Thaynes Group, UAZ₅ of Jattiot et al. 2017

Prionitid localities (from Brayard et al 2013)

CARDIOCERATINAE Siemiradzki, 1891:

Cardioceratids

About 162mya the Subfamily Cardioceratinae gathered in the Sundance Sea that covered much of Montana and Wyoming along with parts of Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and South Dakota.  This reunion started with Quenstedtoceras and Pavloviceras coming in from the north in Montana, and closed with 18 species in 4 genera and 3 subgenera. 

·             Cardioceras Neumayr & Uhlig, 1881         

o   Scarburgiceras Buckman, 1924    6 species

o   Cardioceras Buckman, 1923         1 species

o   Goliathiceras Buckman, 1919       2 species

·             Scoticardioceras Buckman, 1925                     2 species

·            Vertebriceras Buckman, 1920                          4 species

·            Cawtoniceras Buckman, 1923                         3 species

With rare Perisphinctids.  (see Imlay 1982, and Reeside 1919 for composition of the fauna, and Howarth 2017 for a revision of the Stephanoceratoidea)  This reunion is recorded in the cordatum Zone of the Swift Formation of Montana, the Sundance Formation of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, and the Stump Formation of Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. 

Cardioceratid localities (from Imlay 1982)

Localities for the reunions in the western US are shown, but the events were probably global.

References:

Brayard, A., Bylund, K. G., Jenks, J., Stephen, D. A., Olivier, N., Escarguel, G., Fara, E. & Vennin, E., 2013, Smithian ammonoid faunas from Utah: implications for Early Triassic biostratigraphy, correlations and basinal paleogeography. Swiss Journal of Paleontology 132:141-219

Brayard, A., Olivier, N., Vennin, E., Jenks, J., Bylund, K., Stephen, D., McShinsky, D., Goudemand, N., Fara, E., Escarguel, G., 2020. New middle and late Smithian ammonoid faunas from the Utah/Arizona border: new evidence for calibrating Early Triassic transgressive-regressive trends and paleobiogeographical signals in the western USA basin. Global and Planetary Change 192

Howarth, Michael K., 2017, Part L, Revised, Volume 3B, Chapter 6: Systematic descriptions of the Stephanoceratoidea and Spiroceratoidea. Treatise Online 84:1–101, 66 fig.

Imlay, R. W., 1982, Jurassic (Oxfordian and Late Callovian) Ammonites from the Western Interior Region of the United States, U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 1232, 44 p., 26 pls.

Jattiot, R., Bucher, H., Brayard, A., Monnet, C., Jenks, J. F. & Hautmann, M., 2015, Revision of the genus Anasibirites Mojsisovics (Ammonoidea): an iconic and cosmopolitan taxon of the late Smithian (Early Triassic) extinction. Papers in Palaeontology 2 (1):155 –188.

Jattiot, R., Bucher, H., Brayard, A., Brosse, M., Jenks, J.F., Bylund, K.G., 2017, Smithian ammonoid faunas from northeastern Nevada: implications for Early Triassic biostratigraphy and correlation within the western USA basin. Palaeontographica A (Paleozoology, Stratigraphy), doi: 10.1127/pala/2017/0070.

Mathews, Asa A. L., 1929, The Lower Triassic Cephalopod Fauna of the Fort Douglas Area, Utah, Walker Museum Memoirs Vol.1 No.1 University of Chicago Press, 46 p., 11 pls.

Reeside, J. B., Jr., 1919, Some American Jurassic Ammonites of the Genera Quenstedticeras, Cardioceras and Amoeboceras, Family Cardioceratidae, U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 118, 64 p., 24 pls.

Smith, J. P., 1932, Lower Triassic Ammonoids of North America, U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 167,199 p., 81 pls. 

Early Triassic Moenkopi/Thaynes - Ammonoid Biostratigraphy, Correlation and Paleogeography

Smithian ammonoid faunas from Utah: implications for Early Triassic biostratigraphy, correlation and basinal paleogeography

Arnaud Brayard, Kevin G. Bylund, James F. Jenks, Daniel A. Stephen, Nicolas Olivier, Gilles Escarguel, Emmanuel Fara, Emmanuelle Vennin, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 2013, 132:141-219

Abstract

Intensive sampling of the lower portion of the Thaynes and Moenkopi Groups (Lower Triassic) at separate localities within the Confusion Range, Pahvant Range, Mineral Mountains, Star Range, Kanarraville, Cedar City, Torrey and San Rafael Swell areas (mainly central and southern Utah, USA) leads to the recognition of a new key regional Smithian ammonoid succession. The new biostratigraphical sequence, which is more precise than the long-recognized Meekoceras gracilitatis and Anasibirites kingianus Zones, comprises twelve subdivisions, thus resulting in a sequence with much higher resolution that can be correlated not only with other western USA sites, but also with major worldwide localities as well. Middle and late Smithian faunas contain many taxa with wide geographic distribution, thus enabling long-distance correlation with faunal successions from other regions (e.g., British Columbia, Canadian Arctic, South China, Spiti and Oman). New assemblages from the lowermost beds are the least diversified and poorest preserved; they represent the earliest early/middle Smithian ammonoid faunas reported from the western North American basin. They highlight (a) the sudden Smithian advancement of the marine transgression within this epicontinental sea, (b) that this event is diachronous, and (c) that the paleotopography of the basin most likely was highly irregular. The newly obtained ammonoid succession also allows us to date and follow the transgression from the northern and central part of the basin to the southwesternmost and southeasternmost parts, which were reached during the late Smithian (Anasibirites kingianus beds). In addition, we briefly discuss the now-limited previous regional biozonation in the light of these new results. One new genus (Minersvillites) and nine new species (Kashmirites utahensis, Kashmirites confusionensis, Kashmirites stepheni, ?Xiaoqiaoceras americanum, Minersvillites farai, Inyoites beaverensis, Meekoceras olivieri, Meekoceras millardense, Vercherites undulatus) are also described.


The ammonoids are mostly all the old Early Triassic ones described by C.A.White from collections made by the early geologic surveys of the american west, and by J.P.Smith in the early part of the last century.  A more precise and revised biostratigraphy is proposed.  Below is one of the newly described ammonoids, this one from the Minersville area, one of the earliest Smithian ammonoids found in the western USA.

Vercherites undulatus Brayard Bylund and Jenks 2013

The rocks we have been working in represent the Permian and Early Triassic transition beds, usually some Permian limestones followed by an erosive surface, conglomerate, then a transgressive sequence with marginal marine redbeds, inner shelf, outer shelf and basinal deposits following.

Moenkopi and Thaynes Groups as exposed near Minersville

Permian rocks at the bottom, then the red Black Dragon Formation, and capped with the Sinbad Formation.  As exposed just west of Capitol Reef National Park.

     As you can see, some very wonderful country to explore and work in.  More papers are in the works covering the paleontology and geology of these rocks, I'm really looking forward to the adventure.

PRIONITE-MARE

The Family PRIONITIDAE is a nightmare of taxonomy.  The amount of intraspecific variation, or even intrageneric variation is overwhelming.  Most generic assignments are based on the shape, size, amount, and/or lack of ribs, bullae, nodes, whether they cross the venter or stop short, whether the nodes are mid flank or start near the umbilicus, whether the inner whorls or the outer whorls are smooth.  A lot of specific and generic assignments are arbitrary, a slightly arched venter instead of a flat venter is cause for different generic assignment of forms that basically look exactly alike. 

Tozer, 1994, in his monograph of Canadian Triassic Ammonoids, discussed the differences between Population Taxonomy and Typological Taxonomy and admitted that his classification, especially of the Prionitidae, was arbitrary, and to use a strictly typological taxonomy would mean almost every specimen was a seperate species.  He also talked about using the typological method just to show what the taxon looked like.

To see a Prionitid, it is easily assigned to the Prionitidae, and the beds containing it are easily assigned to the Late Smithian, and usually to the biozone and/or beds known for the Prionitidae.  Is it really necessary to split them into a bunch of different species or genera?  I suppose I could live with a few nominal species divided amongst a few genera for the time being, at least until the family is revised and a more natural classification determined.  Still, what a Prionite-mare.

For references see THIS old post, along with an old rant of the same topic. ;)

Payday for an Amateur Paleontologist

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary "Amateur: one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession".  It don't say anything about getting paid, just about having fun or making a job out of it.  I guess that one of the greatest means of compensation someone that does this for fun can receive, and retain an amateur standing, is to have a fossil named after them.  Well, I got paid.

 

 Kazakhoceras bylundi

It don't pay the mortgage or put food on the table, but that doesn't matter, that would be like getting paid to go to the amusement park.  Just the privilege of going out in the field with Dieter and Alan, spending a few days having fun, collecting and discussing the fossils, was compensation enough.

Thanks again Dieter and Alan!

KORN, D. & TITUS, A.L. 2011. Goniatites Zone (middle Mississippian) ammonoids of the Antler Foreland Basin (Nevada, Utah). Bulletin of Geosciences 86(1), 107–196 (60 figures, 37 tables, appendix). Czech Geological Survey, Prague.

Intraspecific variation in Forresteria

Forresteria alluaudi (Boule, Lemoine & Thevenin) 1907, from depressed, evolute, spinose to compressed, involute, almost smooth, a nice range of intraspecific variation. Is it any wonder why these, and some like these, were placed in 4 separate species in 3 separate subgenera (Reeside, 1932), Barroisiceras (Forresteria) forresteri, B. (F.) stantoni, B. (Alstadenites) sevierense, and B. (Harleites) castellense. Kennedy, Wright and Klinger (1983) put them all in synonymy with F. alluaudi.

Many ammonoids show intraspecific variation, including, for example, Placenticeras from the Cretaceous and, at least in my mind and experience, Anasibirites and Wasatchites from the Early Triassic. Found in the same bed or group of beds worldwide, to see one would tell you precisely what age the rock they were in is. Unlike the Triassic example, where there are differences in ornamentation and shape from one part of the world to another (maybe some kind of latitudinal or provincial thing), F. alluaudi is basically the same, that is different, wherever found.

Forresteria was named after the late Robert Forrester of Salt Lake City, Utah, who found the type material in southern Castle Valley, eastern Sevier County, Utah.

Scaphites hippocrepis and S. leei

Scaphites hippocrepis and S. leei, Early Campanian (Late Cretaceous) Scaphitids. A row of ventrolateral tubercles, an inner row of tubercles on the body chamber and a constricted collar at the aperture. Best seen on the micromorph of S. leei in #22 below, and on the macromorph in #27, are dorsal lappets.


Below is a drawing of the dimorphs of S. hippocrepis. The collar shows well but the dorsal lappet does not, at least not as well as on some of the other figures.

The lappets and their dorsal location on the aperture of the adult micromorph is the question at hand, just how much plasticity is there in the location of the lappets around the collar? Especially in their ancestors and descendants.

Figures from:

Cobban, W.A., 1969, The Late Cretaceous ammonites Scaphites leei Reeside and Scaphites hippocrepis (DeKay) in the western interior of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 619, 29 p., 5 pls.

Tirolites ?

? Tirolites body chamber cast

From above the "Clam Wall" and below the "Spathian Gap", geographic outcrop nicknames that don't mean anything to anyone unless you have a copy of my field notes from 15 years ago, sorry. Even below M109 of anothers' notes. Not a very good fossil, but it may be important.

Rudolftruempyiceras Guex & Bylund 2010

The name Boreoceras Dagys & Ermakova (1988), has been replaced with Rudolftruempyiceras Guex & Bylund 2010, Family Columbitidae, see Guex, J., Hungerbuhler, A., Jenks, J., O’Dogherty, L., Atudorei, V., Taylor, D., Bucher, H., Bartolini, A., 2010, Spathian (Lower Triassic) Ammonoids from Western USA (Idaho, California, Utah and Nevada), Memoire de Geologie (Lausanne), No. 49, on page 29. The name Boreoceras is used for an Ordovician Endocerid Nautiloid by Miller & Youngquist (1947). The ammonoids in this old post and this update, will probably be referred to Xenoceltites and not the new genus.

Link

vermiformis? Beds

a small Scaphites from low in the ?Lower Emery SS beds of the Mancos Shale east of Green River.

Body chamber from Clioscaphites ?vermiformis. These seem to have a lot more ribs than typical C. vermiformis.

Inyoites from my "Meekoceras" Quarry

One of the Inyoites found near my old "Meekoceras" quarry. Some of the saddles seem to have the same ammonitic character as the ?Flemingites below. This is starting to look like an artifact of preservation more and more. It would be nice to see how high on the saddles the serrations of the lobe go up on the inner parts of the septa, I would have to break the suture back to see this. The preservation is such that there seems to be quite a bit of erosion from the actual surface of the internal mold.