San Nicholas Island (SN-11) (Quaternary of the United States)

Also known as Vedder & Norris (1963) SN-11

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: general faunal/floral analysis

PaleoDB collection 37939: 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 rubescens green volcano barnacle
Polyplacophora
 Neoloricata - Mopaliidae
Mopalia cf. muscosa Gould 1846 mossy mopalia
 Chitonida - Acanthochitonidae
"Cryptochiton" stelleri Middendorf 1847 giant Pacific chiton
 Chitonida - Callistoplacidae
Callistochiton crassicostatus Pilsbry 1893 chiton
Bivalvia
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
"Modiolus cf. fornicatus" = Modiolus carpenteri Soot-Ryen 1963 California horsemussel
Septifer bifurcatus Conrad 1837 bifurcate mussel
Mytilus californianus Conrad 1837 California mussel
 Cardiida - Lasaeidae
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni Gmelin 1791 reddish lepton
 Cardiida - Neoleptonidae
Bernardina bakeri Dall 1910 Baker's bernardclam
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 California semele
 Cardiida - Veneridae
"Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii, "Irus cf. lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera, "Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla
"Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii Yates 1890 Ford's venus
"Irus cf. lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera Conrad 1837 lamellar venus
"Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea Conrad 1837 common littleneck
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 purple dwarf-venus
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 California lucine
 Carditida - Carditidae
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 Carpenter's carditid
Gastropoda
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis cf. cracherodii Leach 1814 black abalone
Haliotis ? rufescens Swainson 1822 red abalone
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
Fissurella volcano Reeve 1849 volcano limpet
Diodora aspera Rathke 1833 rough keyhole limpet
"Megatebennus bimaculatus" = Fissurellidea bimaculata Dall 1871 two-spotted keyhole limpet
Puncturella cf. cooperi Carpenter 1864 puncturella
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
"Tegula gallina multifilosa" = Chlorostoma gallina multifilosum, "Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea, "Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale, "Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis
"Tegula gallina multifilosa" = Chlorostoma gallina multifilosum Stearns 1893 speckled turban
"Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea Philippi 1849 brown tegula
"Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale Adams 1855 black turban
"Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 choice margarite
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum, Homalopoma cf. baculum, "Astraea cf. gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum Dall 1885 dark dwarf-turban
Homalopoma cf. baculum Carpenter 1864 berry dwarf-turban
"Astraea cf. gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa Dillwyn 1817 red turban
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides
"Tricolia pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 sullied pheasant
 Patellida - Lottiidae
"Acmaea cf. pelta" = Lottia pelta, "Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis, "Acmaea insessa" = Lottia insessa, "Acmaea asmi" = Lottia asmi, "Acmaea ? limatula" = Lottia limatula, "Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra, Acmaea mitra
"Acmaea cf. pelta" = Lottia pelta Eschscholtz 1833 shield limpet
"Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis Eschscholtz 1833 fingered limpet
"Acmaea insessa" = Lottia insessa Hinds 1842 seaweed limpet
"Acmaea asmi" = Lottia asmi Middendorff 1847 black limpet
"Acmaea ? limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 file limpet
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 rough limpet
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 white-cap limpet
  - Neptuneidae
Macron cf. lividus Adams 1855 livid macron
 Basommatophora - Siphonariidae
 Heterostropha - Trimusculidae
Trimusculus reticulatus Sowerby 1835 netted button shell
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
 Vanikoroidea - Eulimidae
"Balcis thersites" = Melanella thersites
"Balcis thersites" = Melanella thersites Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepipatella lingulata Gould 1846 Pacific half-slippersnail
Crepidula onyx Sowerby 1824 onyx slippersnail
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 hooked slippersnail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
Barleeia cf. oldroydi Bartsch 1920 barleysnail
Barleeia subtenuis Carpenter 1864 fragile barleysnail
Amphithalamus inclusus Lozouet 1998 snail
Amphithalamus cf. tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea, ""Rissoina" aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta, Alvania almo, Alvania cf. oldroydi
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 purple alvania
""Rissoina" aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta Keep 1887 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Caecidae
Fartulum cf. orcutti Dall in Orcutt 1885 snail
Caecum sp. Fleming 1813 snail
"Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum Carpenter 1857 snail
Caecum californicum Dall 1885 California caecum
 Sorbeoconcha - Vitrinellidae
Vitrinella cf. oldroydi Bartsch 1907 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Antisabia panamensis Adams 1852 hoof shell
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata Sowerby 1825 purple olivella
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
"Acanthina cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris, "Ocenebra cf. interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa, "Ocenebra cf. foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata, "Acanthina cf. punctulata" = Acanthinucella punctulata
"Acanthina cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris Sowerby I 1822 dark unicorn
"Ocenebra cf. interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa Carpenter 1864 sculptured rocksnail
"Ocenebra cf. foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata Hinds 1844 dim rocksnail
"Acanthina cf. punctulata" = Acanthinucella punctulata Sowerby I 1835 spotted unicorn
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
Calicantharus fortis Carpenter 1866 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
Amphissa versicolor Dall 1871 variegated amphissa
Mitrella cf. tuberosa Carpenter 1864 tuberose mitrella
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus Reeve 1844 California cone
 Neogastropoda - Mangeliidae
"Mangelia ? interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa, "Mangelia cf. variegata" = Tenaturris variegata, "Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia), "? Cytharella sp." = Cythara (Mangelia)
"Mangelia ? interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mangelia cf. variegata" = Tenaturris variegata Carpenter 1864 tan mangelia
"Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"? Cytharella sp." = Cythara (Mangelia) Loven 1846 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitromorphidae
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior Tryon 1884 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae Melville 1893 half-pitted miter
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Triviidae
"Pusula californiana" = Pseudopusula californiana
"Pusula californiana" = Pseudopusula californiana Gray 1827 California trivia
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae, "Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata, "Littorina cf. scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae Rosewater 1978 eroded periwinkle
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 one-banded lacuna
"Littorina cf. scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 checkered periwinkle
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella, Petaloconchus complicatus
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 flat wormsnail
Petaloconchus complicatus Dall 1908 worm shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Cerithiopsidae
Cerithiopsis sp. Hanley 1849 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Procerithiidae
"Bittium attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum, "Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum
"Bittium attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum Carpenter 1864 slender cerith
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum Carpenter 1864 snail
 Opisthobranchiata - Cylichnidae
"Coleophysis ? harpa" = Acteocina harpa
"Coleophysis ? harpa" = Acteocina harpa Dall 1871 harp baby-bubble
Echinoidea
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus ? purpuratus Stimpson 1857 Pacific purple sea urchin
Anthozoa
 Scleractinia - Dendrophylliidae
Balanophyllia elegans Verrill 1864 orange cup coral