The ECPHORA The Newsletter of the Calvert Marine Museum Club Volume 25  Number 2 June 2010

Features Nypa Nut Donated

 Eocene “Coconut” Aaron Alford has donated an exceptionally well preserved fossil Donated fruit of a Nipa palm (Nypa burtini) to the Calvert Marine Museum, which  in your back he collected from the Woodstock Member of the Nanjemoy Formation Yard (lower Eocene) in Maryland. Nypa fruits are actually rather common in  Collections Spotlight the lower Woodstock, and Bruce Tiffney of the University of California Inside (Santa Barbara) reported its occurrence in Maryland in 1999 (Virginia Division  Dr. Kidwell to lecture of Mineral Resources Publication 152, p. 148-149). Unfortunately, almost always these in September fruits are crushed nearly flat. The woody tissue is very soft and begins to crumble as soon as it is dug out and starts to dry. What is exceptional in  Bird Bones Donated this case is that the fruit Aaron found is in a calcareous nodule that  Greedy Guts - the Gull excellently preserves the shape of the entire fruit in an only slightly  Pathological Otodus compressed condition. This is by far the best Nypa fruit so far found in and Sand Tiger Shark Maryland or Virginia, and the only one known that can be preserved Teeth permanently without fear of it crumbling away.  Shark-bitten Finds Nypa is a member of the palm family and grows today in coastal  Peccary Astragalus brackish water mangrove swamps in tropical Southeast Asia and northern  Small Dolphin Skull Australia. It is a true palm, but it is unusual in that its main stem runs Tweaks Curator’s underground and sends up shoots as much as 30 feet tall in a manner Interest similar to bamboo. Like other palms, its fruits can float long distances on  Whale Skull Quarried the sea and spread with the currents. This helps to explain why the fruits of its fossil

ancestors are found in the shallow marine deposits of the Nanjemoy Formation, and why the same fossil species of Nypa also is found in the lower Eocene of England. Modern Nypa is cold- intolerant, and efforts to grow it near Miami met with failure due to occasional light frosts. In the Eocene, Nypa was widespread around the world because temperatures then were much higher than today. The occurrence of Nypa in the Nanjemoy Formation, along with the occurrence of at least three genera of crocodilians, strongly suggests that in the early Eocene the climate in Maryland was probably as warm as that of present-day Cuba or Puerto Rico. Submitted by Dr. Robert Weems. ☼

CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM www.calvertmarinemuseum.com 2 The Ecphora June 2010

Club President Receives Award A Few Auk Words…

Bruce Hargreaves, President of the Calvert Marine Museum Fossil Club and member of the Maryland Geological Society, wrote and submitted an article to the MGS newsletter entitled "Belemnites of the Chesapeake: A Look at the Delaware State Fossil.” This article was subsequently submitted by MGS to the Eastern Federation of Mineral and Lapidary Societies (EFMLS). For his literary prowess, he received the highly coveted Bulletin Editor's Contest trophy, awarded once a year. (There are over 130 clubs in the EFMLS with close to 50,000 members.) Congratulations Bruce!

Paul Murdoch donated these fossil Auk bones. They include a clavicle (i.e. the wishbone) and a coracoid (another shoulder girdle bone), (both CMM-V-4345) from Bed 14 of the Calvert Formation, Westmoreland Co., VA. Scan by S. Godfrey.

CMM Fossil Club President, Bruce Hargreaves, shares his joy with club members. Photo by CMMFC. ☼

Megalodon Nursery? Auks are members of the family Alcidae. Pictured http://www.physorg.com/news192814578.html here is the Parakeet Auklet (Cyclorrhynchus psittacula). Image from Wikimedia Commons. ☼ Submitted by Doug Alves. ☼ Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 3 The Ecphora June 2010

Whale Quarried May 10, 2010 skull with associated bones including at least one mandible. This in and of itself was an amazing Holds Surprise discovery but it didn’t end there. While removing a smaller rib-containing jacket from the side of the skull we discovered a long snouted dolphin skull (Eurhinodelphinidae) lying beneath the whale skull! In addition to all of these, a crocodile tooth and a Ranzania (Ocean Sunfish) beak all came from the same hole. 10 hours of digging later we had to make the decision of whether to remove the 600 lb jacket that day or wait until conditions were good again. Weather predictions for the following day were for high tides and strong wind. Consequently, we called in reinforcements at 6 pm and thanks to Paul Murdoch, Nicholas Murdoch, Michael Godfrey and Jonathan Wahab, we managed to remove the field jacket by 8 pm just as the sun was setting. The jacket is now on display in the Gallery at the CMM where Pam Platt and Christa Conant are undertaking preparation.

Submitted by John Nance. ☼

Greedy Guts

From left to right, Stephen Godfrey, Ray Bacorn, and John Nance strap 2x4’s onto the field-jacketed baleen whale skull in preparation for its removal from its prehistoric tomb. Photo by M. Godfrey.

On May 10, Stephen Godfrey, Ray Bacorn, and I began the day at the north end of Calvert Cliffs with the intent of quarrying a small whale skull from the cliffs. However, because of unsafe cliff conditions, we decided to check on a reported whale skull further south. A significant low tide created perfect working conditions to remove the whale skull Ray Bacorn found this dead gull on a beach below from the tidal flat below the cliffs without having to Calvert Cliffs, having died presumably because it worry about water inundating the site. As we began, tried to eat a fish that was too big for it to swallow we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. or regurgitate. Notice the fish tail protruding from Once the skull was found and quarrying began it the gull’s wide-open mouth. What a sweet fossil that became clear that this was going to be a big job. The would make. Photo by Ray Bacorn. final jacket was six feet long and probably weighed in close to 600 lbs. What had been reported by Submitted by Ray Bacorn. ☼ Henry Hays was discovered to be a baleen whale

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 4 The Ecphora June 2010

Collection Spotlight Series Small Dolphin Skull Donated

Here I would like to showcase just a handful of the that Wally Ashby donated to the Calvert Marine Museum. In 2006 his daughter, Mary Parrish, wrote a special memorial in The Ecphora in honor of Mr. Ashby. (The Ecphora: Volume 21, Number 4, December 2006 http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/news letter/CMMFC_Newsletter_2006-12.pdf ) Over Mr. Ashby’s years of collecting, he made some incredible discoveries. These fossils are now housed in the CMM and the National Museum of Natural History (The Smithsonian Institution). Below are five out of the hundreds of fossils he donated in his lifetime. This Miocene crocodile vertebra and teeth were collected in situ (Latin for having been found “in place”) as were the majority of Mr. Ashby’s finds. He took detailed field notes while collecting. Having such accurate stratigraphic and locality information is invaluable when it comes to studying these fossils.

This small dolphin partial skull was donated recently by Jason Osborne and Aaron Alford. In this image, the skull is seen in dorsal view with the narrow incomplete rostrum pointing towards the top of the page. The section of skull in the lower left quadrant of the photo includes the left supraorbital and left premaxilla adjacent to the nares (the region of the blowhole). The Curator is looking forward to working with the donors on a short paper describing Crocodile fossils collected and donated to the CMM this specimen. Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼ by Wallace Ashby. Scan by John Nance. ☼

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 5 The Ecphora June 2010

Paleocarcharodon Donated Shark-Bitten Seal Calcaneum

Brandon Sorzano donated this Paleocarcharodon tooth to our permanent collection; many thanks! Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼

Peccary Pes… Paul Murdoch donated this seal calcaneum (one of the ankle bones) that he found at Lee Creek, Aurora, N.C. Interest in this bone is heightened because the tip of a broken shark tooth (shown at the tip of the arrow) is imbedded in the bone. Additionally, the surface of this ankle bone is marred by other presumed shark-in-origin feeding damage. Six different kinds of seals are known from Lee Creek (Koretsky and Ray, 2008). Consequently, the Editor does not yet know to which species this bone belongs. Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼

Koretsky, I. A. and C. E. Ray. 2008. Phocidae of the Pliocene of Eastern USA. In Geology and Paleontology of the Lee Creek Mine, North Carolina, IV. Virginia Museum of Natural History 14: 81-140.

American Lion Not a Lion

(Perhaps it’s a Jaguar?)

Paul Murdoch donated this superbly well preserved http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chie peccary astragalus (first and upper-most ankle feditor/2010/05/the-american-lion-is-not-a-lio.html bone). The specimen, CMM-V-4344, is from Bed 14 of the Calvert Formation. Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼ Submitted by Bruce Hargreaves. ☼ Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 6 The Ecphora June 2010

Editor’s note: The following article was originally received from Ray Stanford as an email. With his permission, I have condensed and edited that correspondence for inclusion here. Many thanks Ray!

Dinosaurs in Your Back Yard?

On April 28, 2010 a new exhibit at the Smithsonian entitled Dinosaurs from Our Back Yard opened. Among other fossils, it features the new genus and species of nodosaur (one of the armored dinosaurs) that will soon be published. As it happened, that day was also possibly the happiest of my 71 years, because Curator of Dinosaurs, Dr. Matthew Carrano and those working with him in the NMNH display department produced a more beautiful exhibit than I had ever expected. Equally thrilling is the fact that the exhibit will be a permanent one that could be seen by millions of people, so 'my little nodosaur' should have no need to feel lonely.

In this image of an exhibit panel, the photo of me with two ichnites on the table was taken by a photographer with The Sun newspaper, Baltimore's largest. In front of me are, at left, the type specimen, and, at right, the referred specimen, of my new ichnospecies (trace-fossil species) Hypsiloichnus marylandicus, meaning trace (in this case front and back footprints) of an hypsilophodontid Here Ray Stanford poses next to one of the exhibit from Maryland. They are Maryland's first, and to cases in which are mostly dinosaur footprint trace date only, 'native' ichnospecies, of which I have fossils that he collected not far from where he lives. collected several other nice specimens, including one Photo by Joel Stanford. made by a sub-adult individual. The smaller footprint at the top of each ichnite is a manus ('hand') impression, and the larger 'four-on-the- floor' was made by the pes (back foot) of each trackmaker. Photo by Joel Stanford.

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 7 The Ecphora June 2010

Small Ulna from Calvert Cliffs?

The man to my left is Dr. David B. Weishampel, co- author on our now almost-'in print' paper describing and naming the new nodosaur hatchling I found in February 1997. Dave is one of the world's most respected authorities on dinosaurs. Photo by Joel

Stanford. Scott Nieman found this small mammal ulna (less I am very thankful to Dr. Weishampel for than an inch long) as float along Calvert Cliffs. It his much appreciated encouragement, presents every indication that it is fossilized and not essential advice, and invaluable help with the from a modern animal. What makes this partial ulna scientific paper on the new dinosaur. The day he so interesting is that the fossilized remains of small invited me to co-author a paper on the nodosaur was Miocene are unknown from the cliffs. Scott also one of the happiest days of my life. I am also also donated this specimen to the Calvert Marine indebted to the Smithsonian's NMNH Curator of Museum. Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼ Dinosaurs, Dr. Matthew Carrano, for his encouragement and nearly miraculous patience with me in planning this display (I'm far from the easiest Pathological Otodus Tooth person in the world with whom to work). In my humble opinion, he has the right attributes for his very demanding job: intelligence, tactfulness, patience, and being a man of his word.

Photographs copyright © 2010 by Joel Stanford.

Submitted by Ray Stanford. ☼

Leviathan Unearthed in Peru Pathological Otodus from the Potomac River bears http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment likeness to CMM Curator Stephen Godfrey with a /10461066.stm very fancy comb-over. (Editor’s Note: The Editor does not think that the Curator has a come-over, but found John’s comments too funny to sensor.)

Scanned and submitted by John Nance. ☼ Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 8 The Ecphora June 2010

J. Thomas Dutro Jr. 1923-2010 his more than 200 published papers and maps, there are many examples of how work in systematic

paleontology interdigitates with and informs the Dr. J. Thomas Dutro, Jr. died on June 13, world of geology. His careful work and expertise is 2010, at the age of 87. Tom was retired from the known for the establishment of new taxa and U.S. Geological Survey and was emeritus in the clarification of new genera and species, particularly Department of Paleobiology. for assessing the paleobiogeographical validity of Tom was born in 1923, in Columbus, Ohio, exotic terranes and the correlation of economically and entered Oberlin College in 1940. However, his important formations. Tom's paleobiogeographical studies were interrupted by World War II, where he syntheses involved studies throughout western North served as a weatherman in western Greenland in America through western South America, where conjunction with the northern Atlantic transport of distinctive marine faunas were established for airplanes from Canada to the United Kingdom. understanding the assembly of the west coasts of Tom's service during the War years probably was these continents during the Paleozoic. important for the D-Day invasion of northern France Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy, in June of 1944. He returned to his studies after the daughters Sarah and Susan, and son Christopher. War and graduated in 1948. Tom then entered Yale Condolences can be sent to the Dutro family at 5173 University and received a Ph.D. in geology in 1953. Fulton St., NW, Washington, DC, 20016. In lieu of Tom began working for the USGS in early flowers, the Dutro family requests that memorial 1948. Soon thereafter, Tom was transferred to the remembrances be sent to: Navy Oil Program, where he conducted basic reconnaissance work on the geology of the Brooks Scott Callan Range, northern Alaska, until 1956. After this stint, Paleontological Research Institution Tom joined Preston Cloud's group at the USGS 1259 Trumansburg Road Paleontology and Stratigraphy (P&S) Branch at the Ithaca, New York 14850 NMNH, where he was a specialist on

Paleozoic brachiopods and biostratigraphy of Or Alaskan tectonic fragments. Eventually he expanded his expertise to the western U.S., the Appalachians, Capital Hospice and recently, Eastern Asia and the western Pacific 4401 Connecticut Avenue, NW Rim. In addition to his scientific work he filled Washington, DC 20008 various administrative roles at P&S as a member of the Geology Panel of the Board of Civil Service From: Examiners (1958-1965), member of the Geologic Conrad Labandeira Names Committee (1962-1965), and Branch Chief Department of Paleobiology, MRC-121 (1962-1968). In addition, Tom served as Secretary - National Museum of Natural History Treasurer of the American Geological Institute, Smithsonian Institution Associate Editor for the Bulletin of the Geological P.O. Box 37012 Society of America, Chair of the Geological Washington, DC 20013-7012 Society's History of Geology Division, President of USA the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, President of the ☼ Association of Earth Science Editors and President of the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca,

New York. Tom retired from the P&S Branch in

1994 and became a Research Associated in the Department of Paleobiology. Tom Dutro was a foremost authority on late Paleozoic brachiopods and biostratigraphy. Among

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 9 The Ecphora June 2010

CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM Saturday, Oct. 23. St. Clair, PA (no limit) FOSSIL CLUB Schuylkill County, the Llewellyn Shale Formation TRIPS & EVENTS (Pennsylvanian period., about 300 million years ago), famous for great fossil ferns, white on black.

For more details, e-mail Bob at Saturday, July 10. SHARKFEST at Calvert [email protected] or call 410-533-4203. Marine Museum. Volunteers are needed to help with Please call in as early as possible. Detailed the Paleo Department and our Fossil Club exhibits. directions will be provided. Please contact Stephen Godfrey at:

[email protected] or by calling 410-326-2042 Saturday afternoon, Oct. 30. Scientists Cliffs ext 28. (limit 12) Call in to Bob Ertman’s cell at 410-533-

4203 after noon on the Saturday before. This will be Saturday, Sept. 11. CMMFC meeting at 1:00, an afternoon trip and we will meet at 1:00 p.m. The lecture at 2:30. Our guest lecturer will be Dr. Susan tide will be low at 3:00 p.m. (0.3') Kidwell from the University of Chicago. She will speak on the geologic formation of Calvert Cliffs. Saturday, Nov. 6. Watch this date, we’re working

on something. If you don’t see anything by the end Saturday, Sept. 25. Scientists Cliffs (limit 12) of October, email [email protected]. The This famous Calvert Formation (Miocene) site on the tides at Long Beach will be low at 8:41 a.m. (- 0.1') Chesapeake Bay. Low tide at 10:34 a.m. (0.4'). We will meet at the American Chestnut Land Trust Saturday, Nov. 13. CMMFC meeting at 12:30 & parking lot at 8:30 a.m. (detailed directions Pizza Party. Free public lecture will follow at 2:30 available). Call-in to Bob Ertman’s cell phone at in the auditorium. 410-533-4203 (leave a message) on the Wednesday before the trip after 6:00 p.m. For detailed directions Sunday, Nov. 14. The Chesapeake & Delaware or other questions email [email protected] . Canal with John Wolf (no limit). Call Bob Ertman

at 410-533-4203 or email [email protected] Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 9 & 10. Patuxent River anytime but no later that the Thursday before the Appreciation Days at CMM. Please contact trip. Fossils from the Cretaceous age, a nice change Stephen Godfrey at [email protected] or by from our local Miocene fossils. calling 410-326-2042 ext 28, if you will be able to lend assistance for the event or wish to display some Note: Lee Creek will not be open to fossil collectors of your collection on one or both days. in 2010. The word from the mine last January was

that it was expected to be possible to allow collecting Monday, Oct. 11. Columbus Day. Watch this date; again in the Spring of 2011. ☼ we’re trying to arrange an outing. Monday, Oct. 11,

Columbus Day, Drumcliff aka Jones’ Wharf (limit 10 in two vehicles). Choptank Formation (Miocene) VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF site on the Patuxent River, across from Broomes NATURAL HISTORY TRIPS Island; the tide will be low at 11:13 a.m. We will meet at CMM at 8:30 and take two cars only. You The Virginia Museum of Natural History is once again will need hip waders and chest waders would be offering some great field trips this summer and fall. Field trip better. For details email Bob at fees are used to support VMNH research. To make a [email protected] or call 410-533-4203. For reservation, e-mail [email protected] or call (276) signup, call or email after noon on Sunday a week 634-4171. Information is also available at http://www.vmnh.net/index.cfm/topic/field-trip-adventures. before the trip. Please note that space is limited. Scientifically significant specimens may be retained by Curators for the VMNH collection. Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 10 The Ecphora June 2010

CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM FOSSIL if there were other sources of funding. Club CLUB MINUTES members voted to donate $ 400.00 at this time and check with Stephen later. The CMM Fossil Club met on Saturday, Field trips were discussed. Flo Strean April 24, 2010, in the Exhibition Building of the offered to arrange a visit to the Western Shores area. Calvert Marine Museum. President Bruce Pam asked how many members were available for Hargreaves called the meeting to order and trips on weekdays since the area would probably be welcomed all guests. less crowded then. Vice-President Mark Griffin presented Grenda shared information about a new early awards from the AMS and EFMLS to Bruce pre-Homo sapiens exhibits at the Smithsonian and Hargreaves for Best Bulletin and for a published also about demonstrations on ancient humans from article on Belemnites. Virginia and Maryland. Grenda Dennis, Treasurer, didn’t have a One member said there is a fossil whale detailed report but an estimate of $ 5,000.00 was skeleton at the Visitor’s Center on Interstate 95 at the given for the amount in the CMMFC account. Carmel Church exit in Virginia. The new exhibit is Pam Platt, Membership Chairperson, housed in a new building on Rt. 207. reported that there are 60 regular members and 19 The next meeting will be held September 11. life-time members, and stated that The Ecphora is Most members were interested in attending the also mailed to six clubs, four museums, and eight lecture to be given by Dr. John Lundberg on CMM staff members. Modern and Fossil Catfish in the auditorium. Bruce Hargreaves explained that for several years, Kathy Young had been the club field trip Respectfully submitted by Flo Strean. ☼ leader. Now, he hopes to have different volunteers plan various trips. Christa Conant and Pam helped plan and lead the trip to Cove Point earlier today. Twisted Sand Tiger Tooth Dave Bohaska presented the Smithsonian news and said they have a new Curator of fossil marine mammals (Dr. Nick Pyenson). Someone announced that a vertebrate paleo class from George Washington University (with Drs. Jim Clark, Cathy Forster, and Bruce MacFadden) toured the museum this morning guided by Stephen Godfrey. Old Business: Grenda said she is trying to arrange joint trips with a West Virginia fossil club and hopes they will come here to see the Scientist Cliffs area. New Business: Bruce reminded everyone that it is time to elect officers for 2011. He contacted members by e-mail but no one agreed to run. He asked again during the meeting, but did not get any responses. A motion was made for the Scott Neiman donated this slightly deformed sand present officials to continue in their present tiger shark tooth that he found as float at Flag positions. The motion was unanimously approved. Ponds. Scan by S. Godfrey. ☼ Bruce had received a request from Gale Parks in the museum’s business office for help to purchase a new laser printer. The cost will probably exceed $ 2,000.00. Gale has asked other museum clubs for donations. Pam asked for more details and Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 11 The Ecphora June 2010

Fossils discovered on the nation’s public lands preserve ancient life from all major eras of Earth’s history, and from every major group of animal or plant. In the national parks, for example, fossils range from primitive algae found high in the mountains of Glacier National Park, Montana, to the remains of ice-age animals found in caves at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Public lands provide visitors with opportunities to stand where a fossil tree was rooted or where a fossil animal walked millions of years ago.

Download free resources and learn more about activities in your area at http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/.

Join in the celebration today!

Submitted by Dr. Vincent Santucci and Erica Clites. ☼

Glowing Shark

National Fossil Day October 13, 2010

Attention, fossil enthusiasts! Would you like to participate in special fossil events taking place across the country at parks, museums, classrooms, and online? If yes, then get ready to celebrate The lantern shark's glow is controlled by hormones National Fossil Day, arriving this October. that "switch on" light-emitting cells in its skin. A The National Park Service and the American study led by Julien Claes from the Catholic Geological Institute are partnering to host the first University of Louvain in Belgium revealed that the National Fossil Day on October 13, 2010 during unique light control probably evolved when the Earth Science Week (www.earthsciweek.org). sharks colonized deeper, darker waters. National Fossil Day is a celebration organized to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, Submitted by Yasemin Tulu. ☼ as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value. More than 228 parks managed by the National Park Service contain fossil resources.

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html 12 The Ecphora June 2010

CMMFC P.O. Box 97 Solomons, MD 20688

The Ecphora is published four times a year 2009 Names Email and is the official newsletter of the Calvert Marine Elected Museum Fossil Club. The Editor welcomes Officers & contributions for possible inclusion in the Volunteers* newsletter from any source. Submit articles, President Bruce [email protected] news reports of interest to club members, field Hargreaves trip reports, and/or noteworthy discoveries. All Vice- Mark [email protected] opinions expressed in the newsletter are strictly those President Griffin of the authors and do not reflect the views of the club Treasurer Grenda [email protected] or the museum as a whole. Copyright on items or Dennis articles published in The Ecphora is held by Secretary Flo Strean N/A originating authors and may only be reproduced with Membership Pam Platt [email protected] the written permission of the editor or of the Chairperson author(s) of any article contained within. Editor* Stephen [email protected] Godfrey Editor’s Address: Fall Trip Robert [email protected] Stephen Godfrey, Ph.D. Curator of Paleontology Leader* Ertman Calvert Marine Museum Spring Trip Kathy N/A P.O. Box 97 Leader* Young Solomons, MD 20688

[email protected]

Club website: http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/cmmfc/index.html