In the Miocene and Pliocene fossil shell beds of the eastern United States, the single most spectacular molluscan species radiation is seen in the ecphora shells (the Tribe Ecphorini). These bizarrely shaped gastropods, with their distinctive ribbed shell sculpture, represent a separate branch of the Subfamily Ocenebridae, Family Muricidae. Characteristically, these muricid gastropods are heavily ornamented with spiral ribs and cords and are considered some of the most beautiful and interesting groups of fossil mollusks found along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Floridian Peninsula. The ecphoras are greatly sought after by fossil collectors.
The ecphora faunas, and their individual species and subspecies, are illustrated and described in detail, along with photographs of ecphora-bearing geological units and in-situ specimens. The authors list the 67 known species and subspecies that are recognized as valid, arranged by the eight genera and five subgenera that encompass these taxa.
Author(s): Edward J. Petuch, David P. Berschauer
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 219
City: Boca Raton
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION. The Ecphoras: Eastern North America’s Iconic Fossils
CHAPTER 1. Systematics and Classification of the Ecphoras
Morphological Characters of the Tribe Ecphorini
Ecology of the Ecphora Shells
Patterns of Evolution and Extinction in the Ecphoras
CHAPTER 2. Ecphoras as Stratigraphic Index Fossils
Stratigraphy of Ecphora-Bearing Units
The Miocene Formations of Maryland and Their Ecphoras
The Miocene Formations of Virginia and the Carolinas and Their Ecphoras
The Pliocene Formations of Virginia and the Carolinas and Their Ecphoras
The Miocene Formations of Southern Florida and Their Ecphoras
The Pliocene Formations of Southern Florida and Their Ecphoras
The Jackson Bluff Formation of Northwestern Florida and Its Ecphoras
CHAPTER 3. The Siphonate and Rapaniform Ecphoras
The Genus Ecphorosycon Petuch, 1988
Iconography of Ecphorosycon Species
The Genus Siphoecphora Petuch, 1988
Iconography of Siphoecphora Species
The Genus Chesathais Petuch, 1988
Iconography of Chesathais Species
CHAPTER 4. The Genus Trisecphora Petuch, 1988 and Its Subgenera
Iconography of Trisecphora (sensu stricto) Species
The Subgenus Recurvecphora Petuch and Berschauer, new subgenus
Iconography of Recurvecphora species
The Subgenus Eccentrella Petuch and Berschauer, new subgenus
Iconography of Eccentrella species
The Subgenus Matoaka Petuch and Berschauer, new subgenus
Iconography of Matoaka Species
CHAPTER 5. The Genus Ecphora Conrad, 1843 and Its Subgenera
The Genus Ecphora (sensu stricto) Conrad, 1843
Iconography of Ecphora sensu stricto Species
The Subgenus Rhombecphora Petuch and Berschauer, new subgenus
Iconography of Rhombecphora Species
The Subgenus Powhatan Petuch and Berschauer, new subgenus
Iconography of Powhatan Species
CHAPTER 6. The Genus Planecphora Petuch, 2004
Iconography of Planecphora Species
CHAPTER 7. The Genus Globecphora Petuch, 1994
Iconography of Globecphora Species
CHAPTER 8. The Genus Latecphora Petuch, 1989
Iconography of Latecphora Species
References
Systematic Index
Index of Ecphora-Bearing Geological Units
About the Authors
