Dozens of fossils to be identified

[Fossilon]

Hi I have recently found dozens of fossils well preserved in clay 400 ft above see level with most of i believe are small sea creatures also an amazing preserved frog, baby crocodile head along with what appears to be cuttlefish and squid.
If theres any knowledge from anyone with palaeontology would be appropriated

 

[CreviceSucker]

love to see some photos ?

( of the fossils i mean )

 

[Fossilon]

I just worked out how to upload images.
The second image of a frog ( Back of frog ) stone fossil is the first I found and made me take a second look and now I have multiple creatures

 

[Fossilon]

These two I believe to be sea creatures with the larger rock fossil possibly a Ray?
Any guesses?

 

[Martyz]

Fossilon the frog looks amazing. I didnt think that fossils could retain the pigments in skin as the organic material is replaced by minerals during fossilisation.
It could be possible that the mummified remains of a burrowing frog have become one with actual fossils. Possibly the Warty Waterholding Frog ( Cyclorana verrucosa ). It depends on where you found it.
I think that one needs to make a visit to a museum.

 

[Fossilon]

Thanks for your input Martyz yes I was amazed that when I found the frog it was a wet day and the speckled green dots were extruding out that got my attention and when I cleaned it up I thought the green was a moss type but it is pigment preserved.
Found around the edges of Mt Dandenong Victoria which is an ancient dormant volcano the fossils I find were about one meter deep after some landscaping, maybe the volcanic ash has well preserved this

 

[Martyz]

Okay. Well its a bit south for the species I suggested but we have only been mapping the distribution of Australian fauna for less than 200 years. This specimen could be older if it has been preserved in the right conditions.
I think that a museum palaeontologist would love to assess a specimen like this. It could be an extinct species new to science... you never know. Nice find. :Y:

 

[Fossilon]

Ok that sounds pretty cool or tho I did send this exact image to the Melbourne museum and they replied that is just a normal stone so I actually lost a bit of faith then a friend suggested this forum so thanks for your input

 

[Deepseeker]

Great finds

I'm wondering if it is a Ray, or maybe a Stargazer fish or it's ancestor?

 

[Martyz]

Im not sure who you spoke to at the museum but I would ask to be put in contact with their resident palaeontologist, vertebrate or amphibian specialist.
Maybe you could take some more definitive photographs of identifiable parts of the anatomy or skin that set it apart from normal stone.
Either way I think its worth a second opinion.

 

[Fossilon]

Martyz That looks remarkably the same!
I was thinking of taking the fossil in person maybe leave it at the museum if they allow and check it out.
I do notice the habitat is further north by the image you show however it could of been its habitat back in the day or even washed down by flood or catastrophic event thanks for the feedback

 

[Fossilon]

Deepseeker Yes it has that shape of a Ray this was found at 550ft above sea level on the edges of a quarry in a very dark grey sandy cliff edge and the stone fossil itself is very coarse sandy feel to it along with a very strong ocean smell to it maybe the sea level was at this height many years ago I would love to get a carbon check or whatever it takes to find out its age.
Thanks for the feedback

 

[user 4386]

Ok that sounds pretty cool or tho I did send this exact image to the Melbourne museum and they replied that is just a normal stone so I actually lost a bit of faith then a friend suggested this forum so thanks for your input

Take it in person - there are plenty of people there who could tell you, and I have found them interested and helpful. Photos are often not very diagnostic (I am not completely convinced) - I had to look a couple of times before I could see why you consider them fossils.

Colour would not be preserved, and they are almost certainly younger than the volcanics. But take them in person, they need to be able to handle them.

 

[user 4386]

Also, when you post phots, give something for scale (eg a coin or a hand in the photo) - they could be a few cm or more than a metre long.

 

[LONEWOLF]

Love the Croc Fossil... erfect:

LW....

 

[Fossilon]

Love the Croc Fossil... erfect:

LW....

Thanks yes still has its dentures unlike myself

 

[Martyz]

If you do get them into the museum for a closer look make sure you get back on the forum to let us know the outcome. Especially that normal rock because Ill be surprised if there is anything normal about it.

 

[rustygold]

Hey if you email age of dinosaurs in winton they will give you an email to send photos too for identification. They did my finds recently an were really helpfull all mine were cretaias peried from a marine deposit ...hope this helps cheers.... :Y:

 

[Fossilon]

If you do get them into the museum for a closer look make sure you get back on the forum to let us know the outcome. Especially that normal rock because Ill be surprised if there is anything normal about it.

will do ile be surprised too.
Cheers

 

[Fossilon]

Hey if you email age of dinosaurs in winton they will give you an email to send photos too for identification. They did my finds recently an were really helpfull all mine were cretaias peried from a marine deposit ...hope this helps cheers.... :Y:

Ok thanks