San Nicholas Island (SN-3) (Quaternary of the United States)

Also known as Vedder & Norris (1963) SN-3

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 37947: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 27.03.2004

Creative Commons license: CC0 (CC0)

Taxonomic list

• Comprehensive for invertebrates
unclassified
  -
Gastropoda
 Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
unclassified
  -
Thecostraca
 Balanomorpha - Tetraclitidae
Tetraclita squamosa rubescens green volcano barnacle
Polyplacophora
 Chitonida - Ischnochitonidae
Stenoplax sp. Carpenter 1879 chiton
Tonicella cf. lineata Wood 1815 lined red chiton
 Neoloricata - Mopaliidae
Mopalia hindsii Sowerby 1847 chiton
Gastropoda
 Vanikoroidea - Eulimidae
"Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra, "Balcis cf. thersites" = Melanella thersites
"Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra Bartsch 1917 snail
"Balcis cf. thersites" = Melanella thersites Carpenter 1864 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Procerithiidae
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum, "Bittium cf. attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum Carpenter 1864 snail
"Bittium cf. attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum Carpenter 1864 slender cerith
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Hipponix tumens Carpenter 1864 ribbed hoofsnail
Antisabia panamensis2 Adams 1852 hoof shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Velutinidae
"Velutina aff. laevigata" = Velutina velutina, "Lamellaria rhombica" = Marsenina rhombica
"Velutina aff. laevigata" = Velutina velutina Müller 1776 smooth lamellaria
"Lamellaria rhombica" = Marsenina rhombica Dall 1871 rhombic lamellaria
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae Melville 1893 half-pitted miter
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
"Searlesia" dira Reeve 1846 dire whelk
Calicantharus fortis Carpenter 1866 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
Barbarofusus kobelti Dall 1877 Kobelt's spindle
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
"Mitrella carinata" = Alia carinata Hinds 1844 carinate dovesnail
Mitrella tuberosa Carpenter 1864 tuberose mitrella
Amphissa versicolor Dall 1871 variegated amphissa
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata Sowerby 1825 purple olivella
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus Reeve 1844 California cone
 Neogastropoda - Pseudomelatomidae
 Neogastropoda - Mitromorphidae
"Mitromorpha aspera" = Cymakra aspera, "Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior, "Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri
"Mitromorpha aspera" = Cymakra aspera Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior Tryon 1884 snail
"Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri Glibert 1954 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mangeliidae
"Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa, "Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia), "Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia), "Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata
"Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata Carpenter 1864 tan mangelia
 Neogastropoda - Cystiscidae
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula Carpenter 1857 pear marginella
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
Ceratostoma foliatum, "Ocenebra foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata, "Ocenebra cf. lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida
Ceratostoma foliatum Gmelin 1791 foliate thornmouth
"Ocenebra foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata Hinds 1844 dim rocksnail
"Ocenebra cf. lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida Middendorff 1848 lurid rock shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae, "Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata, "Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata, "Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae Rosewater 1978 eroded periwinkle
"Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata Gould 1848 carinate lacuna
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 one-banded lacuna
"Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 checkered periwinkle
 Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae
"Cryptonatica cf. clausa" = Cryptonatica affinis, "Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii
"Cryptonatica cf. clausa" = Cryptonatica affinis Gmelin 1791 Arctic moonsnail
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii Gould 1847 Lewis's moon snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Triphoridae
"Metaxia cf. diadema" = Metaxia convexa, "Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus
"Metaxia cf. diadema" = Metaxia convexa Cerpenter 1857 snail
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus Bartsch 1907 San Pedro triphora
 Sorbeoconcha - Cerithiopsidae
 Sorbeoconcha - Caecidae
"Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum, Caecum californicum, "Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum
"Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum Carpenter 1857 western caecum
Caecum californicum Dall 1885 California caecum
"Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum Carpenter 1857 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Assimineidae
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
Petaloconchus complicatus Dall 1908 worm shell
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 flat wormsnail
"Aletes squamigerus" = Thylacodes squamigerus Carpenter 1857 scaled wormsnail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
""Diala" cf. marmorea" = Pseudodiala acuta Carpenter 1864 acute barleysnail
Amphithalamus inclusus Lozouet 1998 snail
Amphithalamus cf. tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
Barleeia subtenuis Carpenter 1864 fragile barleysnail
"Rissoina cf. coronadoensis" = Barleeia coronadoensis Bartsch 1920 barleysnail
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
""Rissoina" cf. aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta, "Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea, "Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta, "Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae, "Rissoina aff. dalli" = Zebina dalli, Alvania aff. dinora, Alvania cf. lirata, Alvania sp. n. sp., Rissoina cf. hannai, Rissoina cf. bakeri
""Rissoina" cf. aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta Keep 1887 snail
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 purple alvania
"Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta Carpenter 1864 snail
"Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae Bartsch 1911 snail
"Rissoina aff. dalli" = Zebina dalli Bartsch 1915 snail
Alvania sp. n. sp. Risso 1826 snail
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepidula cf. excavata Broderip 1834 pointed slippersnail
Crepidula perforans Valenciennes 1846 white slipper shell
Crepidula princeps Conrad 1855 slipper shell
Crepidula onyx Sowerby 1824 onyx slippersnail
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 hooked slippersnail
Crepipatella lingulata Gould 1846 Pacific half-slippersnail
 Basommatophora - Siphonariidae
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis rufescens Swainson 1822 red abalone
Haliotis cracherodii Leach 1814 black abalone
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
Puncturella cf. cooperi Carpenter 1864 puncturella
Diodora aspera Rathke 1833 rough keyhole limpet
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
Arene acuticostata, Homalopoma cf. baculum, "Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum, "Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa, "Pupillaria cf. succincta" = Margarites (Pupillaria), "Pupillaria cf. oldroydi" = Margarites (Pupillaria)
Homalopoma cf. baculum Carpenter 1864 berry dwarf-turban
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum Dall 1885 dark dwarf-turban
"Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa Dillwyn 1817 red turban
"Pupillaria cf. succincta" = Margarites (Pupillaria) snail
"Pupillaria cf. oldroydi" = Margarites (Pupillaria) snail
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 sullied pheasant
 Trochoidea - Tegulidae
"Tegula pulligo" = Promartynia pulligo
"Tegula pulligo" = Promartynia pulligo Gmelin 1791 dusky tegula
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
"Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale, "Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea, Halistylus pupoideus, Calliostoma cf. ligatum, "Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis
"Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale Adams 1855 black turban
"Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea Philippi 1849 brown tegula
Halistylus pupoideus Carpenter 1864 pupa halistyle
Calliostoma cf. ligatum Gould 1849 blue topsnail
"Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 choice margarite
 Trochoidea - Liotiidae
Liotia fenestrata Carpenter 1864 California cyclostreme
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
Odostomia cf. io Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
Turbonilla cf. valdezi Dall and Bartsch 1907 snail
Odostomia cf. virginalis Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
 Heterostropha - Trimusculidae
Trimusculus reticulatus Sowerby 1835 netted button shell
 Patellida - Lottiidae
"Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis, "Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta, "Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra, "Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum, "Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula, Acmaea sp. n. sp., Acmaea funiculata, Acmaea mitra
"Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis Eschscholtz 1833 fingered limpet
"Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta Eschscholtz 1833 shield limpet
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 rough limpet
"Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum Eschscholtz 1833 Pacific plate limpet
"Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 file limpet
Acmaea sp. n. sp. Eschscholtz 1830 limpet
Acmaea funiculata Carpenter 1864 corded white limpet
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 white-cap limpet
Bivalvia
 Carditida - Carditidae
Milneria minima, "Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri
Milneria minima Dall 1871 tiny pouchclam
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 Carpenter's carditid
 Hiatellida - Hiatellidae
"Panope cf. generosa" = Panopea generosa, Hiatella cf. arctica
"Panope cf. generosa" = Panopea generosa Gould 1850 geoduck
Hiatella cf. arctica Linnaeus 1767 wrinkled rock-borer
 Cardiida - Lasaeidae
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni Gmelin 1791 reddish lepton
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii Conrad 1837 basket cockle
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 California semele
 Cardiida - Psammobiidae
"Gari californica" = Gari (Gobraeus) californica
"Gari californica" = Gari (Gobraeus) californica Conrad 1849 sunset clam
 Cardiida - Ungulinidae
Diplodonta orbella Gould 1851 orb diplodon
 Cardiida - Veneridae
Humilaria perlaminosa, "Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera, "Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea, "Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii, Saxidomus nuttalli, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla, "Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides
Humilaria perlaminosa Conrad 1855 venus clam
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera Conrad 1837 lamellar venus
"Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea Conrad 1837 common littleneck
"Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii Yates 1890 Ford's venus
Saxidomus nuttalli Conrad 1837 California butter clam
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 purple dwarf-venus
"Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides Conrad 1837 hearty petricola
 Cardiida - Chamidae
Chama arcana1 Bernard 1976 clear jewel box
 Cardiida - Mactridae
"Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii
"Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii Conrad 1837 Pacific gaper
 Pholadida - Pholadidae
Parapholas cf. californica Conrad 1837 scale-sided piddock
Penitella penita Conrad 1837 flat-tipped piddock
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 California lucine
 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
"Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea, "Chlamys hastatus" = Chlamys hastata
"Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea Gray 1825 giant rock-scallop
"Chlamys hastatus" = Chlamys hastata Sowerby 1842 spear scallop
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
"Modiolus fornicatus" = Modiolus carpenteri, Mytilus californianus
"Modiolus fornicatus" = Modiolus carpenteri Soot-Ryen 1963 California horsemussel
Mytilus californianus Conrad 1837 California mussel
Rhynchonellata
 Terebratulida - Terebrataliidae
Terebratalia cf. transversa Sowerby 1846 North Pacific lampshell
Polychaeta
 Spiomorpha -
Thecostraca
 Balanomorpha - Balanidae
Balanus sp. Da Costa 1778 barnacle
Echinoidea
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Stimpson 1857 Pacific purple sea urchin