Fossil Identification Western New York
Hamilton Group: Fossil Trilobite Page
Devonian Reef Fossils
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Invertebrates
TRILOBITE
TRILOBITE
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Greenops Trilobites
Greenops barberi , Greenops grabaui
(Formerly Greenops boothi)
Greenops trilobites are small, usually no more than 1.5 inches in length. They have spines coming from the cephalon and an ornamented pygidium (tail) fringe.
G. barberi has shorter, more triangular fringes, while G. grabaui has longer fringes.
This is an example of an Greenops Trilobite from Western NY - Click on the image to see many more fossil specimens from Western New York.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
This is a positive and negative of two Greenops boothi touching each other.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Another Greenops, with its far left side partially missing.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
A positive and negative Greenops trilobite in poor shape. Most of the black shell on the trilobite didn't survive, hence it is now mostly an internal fossil cast of one.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Eldredgops milleri (formerly Phacops)
Eldredgeops is by far the most abundant trilobite in the Devonian of Western New York. It is very easy to identify, as it has the famous "Frog Eyes" and large glabella (nose like thing). Besides for these two features, it is a rather plain looking trilobite.
This is an example of an Eldredgeops (Phacops) Trilobite from Western NY - Click on the image to see many more fossil specimens from Western New York.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Most fossil trilobites found here are enrolled. These are typical examples of enrolled Phacops trilobites.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Here is a prone Eldredgeops trilobite fossil. "Prone" simply means unenrolled.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Here is another prone trilobite.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
This trilobite fossil is nearly perfect except for the tip of its nose. It is also very 3-D, standing a good 1/4" out of the rock.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
"Road Kill Sam" is a flattened trilobite. I believe it was run over by a car.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Most fossil trilobites found here are enrolled. These are typical examples of enrolled Phacops trilobites.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
This is a flawless enrolled Eldredgeops (Phacops) that I took 95% out of the matrix, with a pyritized shell 1/2" away
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Here is a plate with two enrolled Eldredgeops. Click on the pic for a close up of the two phacops.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Here is a plate with 3 Eldredgeops on it, although the center one is missing a head, and the lower left enrolled one is a little smooshed.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Heres an enrolled trilobite with the tail tucked way under beside a a mangled Eldredgeops
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Here are two enrolled eldredgeops trilibte fossils.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
These are two more enrolled Eldredgeops trilobite fossils. They are both complete, however their heads are on the other side.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
These are in the Tichenor Limestone, and were very difficult to extract. For all the work I did, I wish at least one was complete, however they are both missing their trilo-butts, or pygidium.
Formation: Wanakah Shale, Ludlowville Formation, Hamilton Group
Age: Middle Devonian ~370 - 400 m.y
Location: Western New York
Recommended Books for Western New York Fossils:
Field Guide to the Devonian Fossils of New York
by Karl A. Wilson, 2014
There hasn't been a decent book on the fossils of Western New York available to the nonn professional until this book came out.
This is a MUST for anyone fossil hunting in Western New York. It is an updated guide to all the Devonian taxa of New York... Simply amazing!
It's a nice replacement for the out of print and outdated "Devonian Paleontology of New York" that I've used so much.
Geology And Paleontology Of Eighteen Mile Creek And The Lake Shore Sections Of Erie County, New York (1898)
by Amadeus William Grabau, 1898 (2010 reprint)
This is a famous publication by Grabau himself. Serious Devonian fossil hunter needs this! Grabau laid the framework for Devonian fossils!
This book is a nice history piece chalk full of pictures and descriptions for fossil identification.
The prices often fluxuate, but you can usually get a copy from $30 - $40.
Dynamic Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments of the Hamilton Group (Middle Devonian) in New York State, Part II
Editors: Ed Landing and carlton E. Brett. (1991)
This New York State Museum Bulletin (#469) is a collection of research papers about the Middle Devonian of New York.
I recommend this book if you want a deep understanding of the the paleoenviroments of the Devonian of New York. The papers include how the
sediments were deposited, faunal lists, reconstructions of paleoenvironments, stratigraphy, and more. Being research papers, it's
a bit more technical than the other books, but it gives a great overview of the Devonian of western New York.
Devonian Biostratigraphy of New York
International Union of Geological Sciences
Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy, (Part 1 and Part 2)
Editors: Willian A. Oliver, Jr. and Gilber Klapper
July 1981, Washington D.C.
This is an incredibly informative book, however it is somewhat difficult to find. Your best bet is a University Library.
Recommended Link:
New York Paleontology
Although a bit old, this is still arguably the best New York Paleontology website out there!
Trilobites for Sale:
Trilobites from Fossilera
