(LINKS TO PAST FOSSIL FRIDAYS)
Community
College (LRCCD)
Geology & Earth Science Instructor: Arthur Reed, P.G.
Happy Fossil
Friday!
Friday December 4, 2020
Instructor: Arthur Reed, P.G.
This
handsome guy is Tumidocarcinus giganteus, a fossil crab found in Kohuratahi,
Taranaki, New Zealand.
This deep-water crab lived along the seabed in warmer waters than we enjoy
today, sometime between 11.04 and 7.2 million years ago in the Tongaporutuan
Stage. The scale bar is 5cm.
Tumidocarcinus giganteus' right claw was larger than its left claw, a size
difference most pronounced in the males. It is believed that the larger right
claw was advantageous in feeding, fighting other males and attracting females.
Watch
this video on finding and ‘preparing’ this type of fossil.
Location
where this fossil was discovered.
Maybe
fossil hunting can be profitable??
NOTE:
Corrections are always appreciated!
Attribution: This page adapted from GNS Science