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Calvert Cliffs Collecting Location Page:
Calvert CLiffs, MD

All fossils that can be found at the Calvert Cliffs of MD

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Printable Identification Fossil Sheets for Vertebrates and Invertebrates of the Calvert Cliffs



Invertebrate Miocene Fossils Found in the Calvert & Choptank formations at the Calvert Cliffs of Maryland
(Fossil Identification for Oysters, Clams, Scallops, Sand Dollars, Crustaceans, Coral, etc...)

Invertebrates
(Crustaceans, shells, echinoderms, coral, ...)

Crustaceans
Crustacea Class

Decapoda Order
Crabs
Crab Claw Fragments
Fossil Crab Claw Fragments
Fossil Crab claw tips

Crab claw fragments are fairly common, but small and often overlooked for shark teeth. They are usually hollow and have a bluish or tan color.

For additional images of crab claw fragments, go to the Aurora Invertebrate page.

Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Matoaka Cottages, Calvert Co., MD

    • Bivalves

    Chesapecten Nefrens
    Bivalve
    Extinct Scallop
    fossil scallop chesepectin shell
    These ones were found whole laying in a fresh fall.

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Calvert Cliffs, Calvert Co., MD
    Date:
  • June, 2007 Trip
    • This shell has a tiny one cemented to it. Kind of neat!

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Calvert Cliffs, Calvert Co., MD
    Size:
  • ~ 4 1/2" (113mm) wide
    Date:
  • June, 2007 Trip
    • Glycymeris sp.
    Bivalve
     Identification based on Glaser (1979, p22-23)
    These fragile bivalves, often with both halves still attached, are abundant in certain zones along the cliffs.

    Formation:
  • Calvert
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Randle Cliffs, Calvert Co., MD
    • Isognomon maxillata (Deshayes)
    Oyster- Common names: Giant Tree Oyster & Giant Purse Oyster
     Identification based on Glaser (1979, p22-23)
    These large oyster shells are the index fossil for the Eastover Formation. They are also found in the Calvert and Choptank formations. In certain spots along the Choptank, they literally cover the entire ground, and you have to walk on them.
    These shells are usually white and flaky. Due to their fragile nature, they are difficult to find with both halves attached. This oyster genera is characterized by the large grooved ligamental area (place where the two shell halves attach).
    This is a view of a front and back of a single shell from a specimen.
    This is how they are typically found.
    Notice the large groves in the ligmental area, the part that attaches to the other side of the shell

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Size:~4" They are usually between 4-6" (10-15 cm) in size Location:
  • Near Kenwood Beach, Calvert Co., MD
    • This is a well preserved specimen with both halves still attached. It was found by Bobby Nuckols in VA. He was nice enough to let me use an image of it for this site.

    Formation:
  • Chalvert
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 18-15 m.y.
    Location:
  • Near Tappahannock, VA


    • Gastropods

    Ecphora sp.
    Extinct Gastropod - Murex Shell
    Ecphora Gardnerae is the Maryland State fossil. Their shells are intricately shaped. They are very fragile, and are often found broken.

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Calvert Cliffs, Calvert Co., MD

    • Echinoderms


    Sand Dollar fragments
    If you collect anywhere along the Choptank, you are bound to encounter fragments like these. They are sand dollar fragments. Occasionally you can still make out the patterns on them.
    Complete ones are next to impossible to find.

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Near Matoaka Cottages, Calvert Co., MD

    • Coral

    Astrhelid sp.
    Coral
     Identification based on Glaser (1979, p57).

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Matoaka Cottages, Calvert Co., MD

    • Barnacles

    Balanus sp.
    Barnacle
     Identification based on Glaser (1979, p35)

    Formation:
  • Choptank
    Age:
  • Early - Middle Miocene ~ 15-12 m.y.
    Location:
  • Matoaka Cottages, Calvert Co., MD