San Nicholas Island (SN-12) (Quaternary of the United States)

Also known as Vedder & Norris (1963) SN-12

Where: Ventura County, California (33.2° N, 119.5° W: paleocoordinates 33.2° N, 119.2° 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 37938: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 27.03.2004

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• Comprehensive for invertebrates
unclassified
  -
Echinoidea
 Clypeasteroida - Dendrasteridae
Dendraster cf. excentricus Eschscholz 1826 sand dollar
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus ? purpuratus Stimpson 1857 sea urchin
Gastropoda
 Patellida - Lottiidae
Acmaea mitra, "Acmaea ? limatula" = Lottia limatula, "Acmaea ? insessa" = Lottia insessa, Lottia gigantea, "Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
"Acmaea ? limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 limpet
"Acmaea ? insessa" = Lottia insessa Hinds 1842 limpet
Lottia gigantea Sowerby 1834 limpet
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 limpet
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
"Astraea cf. gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa
"Astraea cf. gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa Dillwyn 1817 red turban
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 snail
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
""Tegula" cf. montereyi" = Chlorostoma montereyi, "Tegula ? funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale, "Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea, "Pupillaria ? optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis
""Tegula" cf. montereyi" = Chlorostoma montereyi Kiener 1850 top snail
"Tegula ? funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale Adams 1855 top snail
"Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea Philippi 1849 top snail
"Pupillaria ? optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 top snail
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
Megathura crenulata Sowerby 1825 snail
Fissurella volcano Reeve 1849 snail
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis cf. rufescens Swainson 1822 abalone
Haliotis cracherodii Leach 1814 abalone
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 slipper shell
 Cerithioidea - Turritellidae
Turritella cooperi Carpenter 1864 turret shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
"Alvania ? purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea
"Alvania ? purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
Amphithalamus tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
Barleeia ? subtenuis Carpenter 1864 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Triphoridae
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus Bartsch 1907 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 worm shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Hipponix tumens Carpenter 1864 hoof shell
Antisabia panamensis2 Adams 1852 hoof shell
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata Sowerby 1825 olive snail
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
Ocenebra beta murex snail
Ceratostoma nuttalli Conrad 1837 murex snail
"Acanthina spirata" = Acanthinucella spirata Blainville 1832 murex snail
"Jaton cf. festivus" = Pteropurpura festiva Hinds 1844 murex snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae Melville 1893 mitre shell
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
Kelletia ? kelletii Forbes 1852 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Nassariidae
"Nassarius cf. perpinguis" = Caesia perpinguis
"Nassarius cf. perpinguis" = Caesia perpinguis Hinds 1844 snail
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
Barbarofusus kobelti Dall 1877 snail
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
Amphissa cf. versicolor Dall 1871 snail
Mitrella ? tuberosa Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mitrella carinata" = Alia carinata Hinds 1844 dovesnail
 Neogastropoda - Pseudomelatomidae
Pseudomelatoma torosa Gabb 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus Reeve 1844 cone shell
 Neogastropoda - Terebridae
 Sorbeoconcha - Triviidae
"Pusula californiana" = Pseudopusula californiana
"Pusula californiana" = Pseudopusula californiana Gray 1827 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Cypraeidae
"Zonaria cf. spadicea" = Neobernaya spadicea
"Zonaria cf. spadicea" = Neobernaya spadicea Swainson 1823 cowry
 Sorbeoconcha - Bursidae
"Bursa californica" = Crossata ventricosa
"Bursa californica" = Crossata ventricosa Broderip 1833 frog shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Vitrinellidae
Vitrinella cf. oldroydi Bartsch 1907 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Tornidae
 Sorbeoconcha - Caecidae
Caecum californicum Dall 1885 snail
"Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum Carpenter 1857 snail
Fartulum cf. orcutti Dall in Orcutt 1885 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii Gould 1847 moon snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata, "Littorina ? scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 periwinkle
"Littorina ? scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 periwinkle
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
 Heterostropha - Trimusculidae
Trimusculus reticulatus Sowerby 1835 button snail
Bivalvia
 Carditida - Carditidae
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 clam
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Hiatellida - Hiatellidae
"Panope generosa" = Panopea generosa
"Panope generosa" = Panopea generosa Gould 1850 clam
 Pholadida - Pholadidae
Penitella penita Conrad 1837 clam
Parapholas californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Cardiida - Veneridae
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera, Saxidomus nuttalli, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera Conrad 1837 venus clam
Saxidomus nuttalli Conrad 1837 venus clam
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 venus clam
 Cardiida - Mactridae
"Spisula planulata" = Simomactra planulata, "Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii
"Spisula planulata" = Simomactra planulata Conrad 1837 clam
"Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii Conrad 1837 clam
 Cardiida - Chamidae
Chama arcana1 Bernard 1976 jewel box
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
"Trigoniocardia biangulata" = Ctenocardia biangulata, "Trachycardium quadragenarium" = Dallocardia quadragenarium
"Trigoniocardia biangulata" = Ctenocardia biangulata Broderip and Sowerby 1829 cockle
"Trachycardium quadragenarium" = Dallocardia quadragenarium Conrad 1837 cockle
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
Septifer bifurcatus Conrad 1837 mussel
Mytilus californianus Conrad 1837 mussel
 Arcida - Glycymerididae
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis Middendorf 1849 clam
 Arcida - Arcidae
"Anadara ? multicostata" = Larkinia multicostata
"Anadara ? multicostata" = Larkinia multicostata Sowerby 1833 ark
 Ostreida - Ostreidae
Ostrea cf. lurida Carpenter 1864 oyster
 Pectinida - Pectinoidae
"Aequipecten cf. circularis" = Argopecten ventricosus, "Pecten vogdesi" = Euvola vogdesi, "Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea
"Aequipecten cf. circularis" = Argopecten ventricosus Sowerby 1842 calico scallop
Aequipecten circularis aequisulcatus
"Pecten vogdesi" = Euvola vogdesi Arnold 1906 scallop
"Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea Gray 1825 scallop
Thecostraca
 Balanomorpha - Balanidae
"Balanus ? tintinnabulum" = Megabalanus tintinnabulum
"Balanus ? tintinnabulum" = Megabalanus tintinnabulum Linnaeus 1758 barnacle
Subspecies: Balanus cf. tintinnabulum californicus
Astraea undosa
  -
"Astraea cf. undosa" = Megastraea undosa
"Astraea cf. undosa" = Megastraea undosa Wood 1828