San Nicholas Island (SN-1) (Quaternary of the United States)

Also known as Vedder & Norris (1963) SN-1

Where: Ventura County, California (33.2° N, 119.5° W)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Unnamed Formation, Quaternary (2.6 - 0.0 Ma)

• Dune sand and fossiliferous marine terrace deposits of Quaternary age. These overlie Eocene strata. Fossils come from seven well-developed wave-cut platforms at altitudes of 25 to 990 feet. Several submerged terraces are present on the shelf adjacent to the island., the lowest being 400 ft below sea-level. Presumably all the terrace platforms on San Nicholas Island were cut later than the middle Pleistocene diastrophism recognized elsewhere in southern California. Terrace platforms are covered with a variety of sediments of marine and non-marine origin and range in thickness from a few inches to many feet.

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: coastal; pebbly, shelly/skeletal, conglomeratic, calcareous sandstone

• Higher emergent terraces may represent wave-abraded platforms that were eroded during eustatic changes in sea level combined with tectonic uplift. The lowest emergent terrace may have been cut during eustatic sea-level changes followed by very slight regional seaward warping. Presumably all the terrace platforms on San Nicholas Island were cut later than the middle Pleistocene diastrophism recognized elsewhere in southern California
• Generally comprise poorly sorted calcareous sand and gravel composed primarily of mollusc shell fragments, echinoid plates and spines, calcareous algae, and bryozoans.

Size class: macrofossils

Collection methods: quarrying,

• Collections made by Vedder et al (1955-1956). Earlier collections by Cooper (1894), and Howard (1955)

Primary reference: J. G. Vedder and R. M. Norris. 1963. Geology of San Nicolas Island, California. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 369:1-65 [A. Miller/A. Hendy/P. Wagner]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 37933: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 27.03.2004

Creative Commons license: CC0 (CC0)

Taxonomic list

• Comprehensive for invertebrates
Mammalia
 Primates - Atelidae
unclassified
  -
Thecostraca
 Balanomorpha - Tetraclitidae
Tetraclita squamosa Bruguière 1789 green volcano barnacle
Subspecies: Tetraclita squamosa rubescens
Polyplacophora
 Neoloricata - Mopaliidae
Placiphorella cf. velata Carpenter 1879 chiton
"Dendrochiton cf. thamnopora" = Mopalia (Dendrochiton) chiton
Mopalia muscosa Gould 1846 chiton
Mopalia cf. ciliata Sowerby 1840 chiton
 Chitonida - Acanthochitonidae
"Cryptochiton" stelleri Middendorf 1847 chiton
 Chitonida - Ischnochitonidae
Lepidozona sp. Pilsbry 1892 chiton
Stenoplax sp. Carpenter 1879 chiton
"Stenoplax cf. conspicuus" = Stenoplax conspicua Carpenter 1879 conspicuous chiton
Tonicella lineata Wood 1815 lined red chiton
Cyanoplax cf. dentiens Gould 1846 chiton
 Chitonida - Callistoplacidae
Callistochiton crassicostatus Pilsbry 1893 chiton
Gastropoda
 Basommatophora - Siphonariidae
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
Halistylus pupoideus, "Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale, ""Tegula" montereyi" = Chlorostoma montereyi, "Tegula cf. brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea, Calliostoma ligatum, "Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis
Halistylus pupoideus Carpenter 1864 top snail
"Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale Adams 1855 top snail
""Tegula" montereyi" = Chlorostoma montereyi Kiener 1850 top snail
"Tegula cf. brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea Philippi 1849 top snail
Calliostoma ligatum Gould 1849 top snail
"Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 top snail
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 snail
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
Arene acuticostata, "Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum, "Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa
Arene acuticostata snail
Subspecies: Arene acuticostata radiata
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum Dall 1885 snail
"Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa Dillwyn 1817 red turban
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
Fissurella volcano Reeve 1849 snail
Diodora aspera Rathke 1833 snail
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis cracherodii Leach 1814 abalone
Haliotis rufescens Swainson 1822 abalone
 Opisthobranchiata - Cylichnidae
Acteocina culcitella Gould 1853 barrel-bubble
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
Petaloconchus complicatus Dall 1908 worm shell
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 worm shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii Gould 1847 moon snail
 Neogastropoda -
"Mitromorpha cf. aspera" = Cymakra aspera, "Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior
"Mitromorpha cf. aspera" = Cymakra aspera Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior Tryon 1884 snail
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus Reeve 1844 cone shell
 Neogastropoda - Mangeliidae
"Mangelia cf. variegata" = Tenaturris variegata, "Mangelia ? interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa, "Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia)
"Mangelia cf. variegata" = Tenaturris variegata Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mangelia ? interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
 Neogastropoda - Turridae
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
"Ocenebra subangulata" = Urosalpinx subangulata, Ocenebra circumtexta, Ocenebra cf. beta, "? Morula cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris, "Ocenebra cf. foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata, "Ocenebra lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida, "Ocenebra interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa, Boreotrophon stuarti, "Acanthina spirata" = Acanthinucella spirata
"Ocenebra subangulata" = Urosalpinx subangulata Stearns 1873 murex snail
Ocenebra cf. beta murex snail
"? Morula cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris Sowerby I 1822 murex snail
"Ocenebra cf. foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata Hinds 1844 murex snail
"Ocenebra lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida Middendorff 1848 murex snail
Subspecies: Ocenebra lurida munda
"Ocenebra interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa Carpenter 1864 murex snail
Boreotrophon stuarti Smith 1880 murex snail
"Acanthina spirata" = Acanthinucella spirata Blainville 1832 murex snail
Subspecies: Acanthina spirata punctulata
 Neogastropoda - Cystiscidae
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula Carpenter 1857 snail
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
 Neogastropoda - Nassariidae
"Nassarius mendicus" = Hima mendica
"Nassarius mendicus" = Hima mendica Gould 1849 snail
Subspecies: Nassarius mendicus cooperi
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
Mitrella tuberosa Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mitrella carinata" = Alia carinata Hinds 1844 dovesnail
Amphissa versicolor Dall 1871 snail
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata, "Olivella cf. pedroana" = Callianax pedroana
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata Sowerby 1825 olive snail
"Olivella cf. pedroana" = Callianax pedroana Conrad 1855 olive snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae Melville 1893 mitre shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Cerithiopsidae
Cerithiopsis sp. Hanley 1849 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Triphoridae
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus Bartsch 1907 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae, "Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata, "Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae Rosewater 1978 periwinkle
"Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 periwinkle
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 periwinkle
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea, ""Rissoina" aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta, "Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta, "Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae, Alvania almo
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 snail
""Rissoina" aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta Keep 1887 snail
"Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta Carpenter 1864 snail
"Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae Bartsch 1911 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
Amphithalamus inclusus Lozouet 1998 snail
Amphithalamus tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
""Diala" cf. marmorea" = Pseudodiala acuta Carpenter 1864 snail
Barleeia ? subtenuis Carpenter 1864 snail
Barleeia cf. oldroydi Bartsch 1920 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Assimineidae
Assiminea translucens Carpenter 1864 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Caecidae
"Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum, Caecum californicum, Fartulum orcutti, "Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum
"Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum Carpenter 1857 snail
Caecum californicum Dall 1885 snail
Fartulum orcutti Dall in Orcutt 1885 snail
"Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum Carpenter 1857 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Vitrinellidae
Vitrinella cf. oldroydi, "Vitrinella stearnsii" = Docomphala stearnsi
Vitrinella cf. oldroydi Bartsch 1907 snail
"Vitrinella stearnsii" = Docomphala stearnsi Bartsch 1907 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Antisabia panamensis Adams 1852 hoof shell
Hipponix tumens Carpenter 1864 hoof shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Procerithiidae
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum, "Bittium attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum Carpenter 1864 snail
"Bittium attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum Carpenter 1864 snail
 Epitonioidea - Epitoniidae
"Opalia wroblewskyi" = Opalia borealis, "Epitonium cf. indianorum" = Nitidiscala indianorum, "Opalia cf. evicta" = Scalaria evicta
"Opalia wroblewskyi" = Opalia borealis Gould 1852 wentletrap
"Epitonium cf. indianorum" = Nitidiscala indianorum Carpenter 1864 wentletrap
"Opalia cf. evicta" = Scalaria evicta de Boury 1918 wentletrap
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Bostrycapulus decorus Collin 2019 slipper shell
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 slipper shell
Crepidula perforans Valenciennes 1846 slipper shell
 Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae
"Bittium eschrichtii" = Neostylidium eschrichtii
"Bittium eschrichtii" = Neostylidium eschrichtii Middendorff 1849 cerith snail
Subspecies: Bittium eschrichtii montereyense
 Vanikoroidea - Eulimidae
"Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra, "Balcis thersites" = Melanella thersites
"Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra Bartsch 1917 snail
"Balcis thersites" = Melanella thersites Carpenter 1864 snail
 Patellida - Lottiidae
"Acmaea instabilis" = Lottia instabilis, "Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis, "Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra, "Acmaea ? pelta" = Lottia pelta, "Acmaea insessa" = Lottia insessa, "Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula, Acmaea mitra
"Acmaea instabilis" = Lottia instabilis Gould 1846 limpet
"Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 limpet
"Acmaea ? pelta" = Lottia pelta Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
"Acmaea insessa" = Lottia insessa Hinds 1842 limpet
"Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 limpet
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
 Heterostropha - Trimusculidae
Trimusculus reticulatus Sowerby 1835 button snail
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
"Odostomia cf. eugena" = Odostomia (Chrysallida) eugena Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
"Turbonilla tenuicula" = Pyrgiscus tenuiculus Gould 1853 snail
Turbonilla cf. valdezi Dall and Bartsch 1907 snail
Odostomia cf. io Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
Scaphopoda
 Dentaliida - Dentaliidae
Graptacme semistriata Turton 1819 tusk shell
Bivalvia
 Ostreida - Ostreidae
Ostrea lurida Carpenter 1864 oyster
 Pectinida - Pectinoidae
"Chlamys cf. hastatus" = Chlamys hastata
"Chlamys cf. hastatus" = Chlamys hastata Sowerby 1842 scallop
 Arcida - Glycymerididae
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis Middendorf 1849 clam
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
Septifer cf. bifurcatus Conrad 1837 mussel
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Hiatellida - Hiatellidae
Hiatella cf. arctica Linnaeus 1767 clam
 Cardiida - Neoleptonidae
Bernardina bakeri Dall 1910 clam
 Cardiida - Lasaeidae
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni Gmelin 1791 kelly clam
 Cardiida - Veneridae
"Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla, "Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera, "Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea
"Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides Conrad 1837 venus clam
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 venus clam
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera Conrad 1837 venus clam
"Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea Conrad 1837 venus clam
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Pholadida - Pholadidae
Penitella penita Conrad 1837 clam
 Carditida - Carditidae
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 clam
Rhynchonellata
 Terebratulida - Cancellothyrididae
Terebratulina unguicula Carpenter 1864
Echinoidea
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus ? purpuratus Stimpson 1857 sea urchin
Anthozoa
 Scleractinia - Dendrophylliidae
Balanophyllia elegans Verrill 1864 stony coral