San Nicholas Island (SN-10) (Quaternary of the United States)

Also known as Vedder & Norris (1963) SN-10

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 37940: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 27.03.2004

Creative Commons license: CC0 (CC0)

Taxonomic list

• Comprehensive for invertebrates
Gastropoda
 Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
unclassified
  -
Scaphopoda
 Dentaliida - Dentaliidae
Graptacme semistriata Turton 1819 tusk shell
Bivalvia
 Arcida - Glycymerididae
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis Middendorf 1849 northern bittersweet
 Arcida - Arcidae
"Arca ? sisquocensis" = Arca (Arca) sisquocensis
"Arca ? sisquocensis" = Arca (Arca) sisquocensis Reinhart 1937 ark
 Pectinida - Pectinoidae
"Chlamys ? hastatus" = Chlamys hastata
"Chlamys ? hastatus" = Chlamys hastata Sowerby 1842 spear scallop
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
Mytilus californianus Conrad 1837 California mussel
 Carditida - Carditidae
Miodontiscus prolongatus Carpenter 1864 elongate carditid
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 Carpenter's carditid
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 California lucine
 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 - Veneridae
Saxidomus nuttalli, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla, Turtonia cf. minuta, "Petricola cf. carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides, "Ventricolaria ? fordii" = Globivenus fordii, "Protothaca cf. staminea" = Leukoma staminea
Saxidomus nuttalli Conrad 1837 California butter clam
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 purple dwarf-venus
Turtonia cf. minuta Fabricius 1780 minute turton
"Petricola cf. carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides Conrad 1837 hearty petricola
"Ventricolaria ? fordii" = Globivenus fordii Yates 1890 Ford's venus
"Protothaca cf. staminea" = Leukoma staminea Conrad 1837 common littleneck
 Cardiida - Tellinidae
"Tellina salmonea" = Cadella nuculoides
"Tellina salmonea" = Cadella nuculoides Reeve 1854 salmon tellin
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 California semele
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii Conrad 1837 basket cockle
 Hiatellida - Hiatellidae
Hiatella arctica Linnaeus 1767 wrinkled rock-borer
Gastropoda
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
"Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 choice margarite
Halistylus pupoideus Carpenter 1864 pupa halistyle
Calliostoma ? ligatum Gould 1849 blue topsnail
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 sullied pheasant
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum Dall 1885 dark dwarf-turban
Pupillaria pupilla Gould 1849 snail
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
"Megatebennus bimaculatus" = Fissurellidea bimaculata Dall 1871 two-spotted keyhole limpet
Fissurella volcano Reeve 1849 volcano limpet
Diodora aspera Rathke 1833 rough keyhole limpet
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis ? rufescens Swainson 1822 red abalone
 Patellida - Lottiidae
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra, "Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta, "Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula, "Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum, Acmaea mitra
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 rough limpet
"Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta Eschscholtz 1833 shield limpet
"Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 file limpet
"Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum Eschscholtz 1833 Pacific plate limpet
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 white-cap limpet
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
Odostomia cf. virginalis Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
Turbonilla cf. valdezi Dall and Bartsch 1907 snail
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepidula onyx Sowerby 1824 onyx slippersnail
Crepidula perforans Valenciennes 1846 white slipper shell
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 hooked slippersnail
Bostrycapulus decorus Collin 2019 slipper shell
 Vanikoroidea - Eulimidae
"Balcis cf. arnoldi" = Melanella arnoldi
"Balcis cf. arnoldi" = Melanella arnoldi Bartsch 1917 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
Barleeia subtenuis Carpenter 1864 fragile barleysnail
Amphithalamus tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
Amphithalamus inclusus Lozouet 1998 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
"Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta, "Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea
"Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta Carpenter 1864 snail
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 purple alvania
 Sorbeoconcha - Cerithiopsidae
Cerithiopsis sp. Hanley 1849 snail
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
Mitrella tuberosa Carpenter 1864 tuberose mitrella
Amphissa columbiana Dall 1916 wrinkled amphissa
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
Barbarofusus ? kobelti Dall 1877 Kobelt's spindle
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
Calicantharus fortis Carpenter 1866 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Clathurellidae
Glyphostoma sp. n. sp. Gabb 1872 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitromorphidae
"Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri, "Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior
"Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri Glibert 1954 snail
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior Tryon 1884 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mangeliidae
"Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia), "Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata, "Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa
"Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata Carpenter 1864 tan mangelia
"Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Pseudomelatomidae
Pseudomelatoma torosa Gabb 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella cf. pedroana" = Callianax pedroana
"Olivella cf. pedroana" = Callianax pedroana Conrad 1855 San Pedro dwarf olive
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
Boreotrophon ? stuarti, "Ocenebra interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa, "Ocenebra lurida munda" = Paciocinebrina munda, "? Morula cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris
Boreotrophon ? stuarti Smith 1880 winged trophon
"Ocenebra interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa Carpenter 1864 sculptured rocksnail
"Ocenebra lurida munda" = Paciocinebrina munda Carpenter 1863 murex snail
"? Morula cf. lugubris" = Mexacanthina lugubris Sowerby I 1822 dark unicorn
 Neogastropoda - Cystiscidae
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula Carpenter 1857 pear marginella
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata, "Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata, "Lacuna cf. unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata
"Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 checkered periwinkle
"Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata Gould 1848 carinate lacuna
"Lacuna cf. unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 one-banded lacuna
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
Petaloconchus complicatus Dall 1908 worm shell
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 flat wormsnail
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Antisabia panamensis Adams 1852 hoof shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Procerithiidae
"Bittium cf. armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum
"Bittium cf. armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum Carpenter 1864 snail
 Epitonioidea - Epitoniidae
"Opalia wroblewskyi chacei" = Opalia borealis, "Epitonium cf. indianorum" = Nitidiscala indianorum
"Opalia wroblewskyi chacei" = Opalia borealis Gould 1852 boreal wentletrap
"Epitonium cf. indianorum" = Nitidiscala indianorum Carpenter 1864 money wentletrap
Polyplacophora
 Neoloricata - Mopaliidae
Mopalia cf. muscosa Gould 1846 mossy mopalia
 Chitonida - Ischnochitonidae
"Stenoplax cf. conspicuus" = Stenoplax conspicua
"Stenoplax cf. conspicuus" = Stenoplax conspicua Carpenter 1879 conspicuous chiton
Echinoidea
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus ? purpuratus Stimpson 1857 Pacific purple sea urchin
Strongylocentrotus cf. franciscanus Agassiz 1863 red sea urchin
Anthozoa
 Scleractinia - Dendrophylliidae
Balanophyllia elegans Verrill 1864 orange cup coral