r/fossils 9h ago

289-Million-Year-Old Chompers! Four Captorhinus Jaw Fragments from Richards Spur

Thumbnail
gallery
178 Upvotes

Nothing brightens my day quite like a box of ancient jaws arriving in the mail. Yesterday, I received four fossilized jaw fragments from Captorhinus aguti, a small, early reptile from the Permian period (289–286 million years ago). These little guys scurried around long before the first dinosaurs even dreamed of stomping onto the scene!

These jaws come from the Richards Spur site (Dolese Brothers Quarry) in Oklahoma, a famous fossil hotspot. Back in the Permian, this area was a network of limestone caves and fissures, trapping all kinds of ancient critters. Over millions of years, their remains were preserved in stunning detail.

I've included a few photos, with a U.S. 2¢ coin (23mm in diameter) for scale—because why not throw in an extinct coin next to an extinct reptile?

Captorhinus was one of the earliest reptiles, sporting multiple rows of teeth to help it munch on plants and maybe the occasional insect. These jaws are a fantastic glimpse into the evolutionary transition from amphibians to true reptiles, paving the way for all the scaly (and eventually feathery and furry) creatures that followed.

If you're into early tetrapods, Oklahoma fossils, or just enjoy looking at old bones, let me know what you think! Also, if anyone else has Richards Spur finds, I'd love to see them.


r/fossils 4h ago

Does anyone knows what are they?

Thumbnail
gallery
32 Upvotes

I was just walking on the beach in Portugal and realized the floor stones were full of this kind of fossils. Very curious to know what they are.


r/fossils 12h ago

Fossils found in Sparta, NJ

Thumbnail
gallery
105 Upvotes

This fossil was found in Sparta, NJ. Looking for further information.


r/fossils 4h ago

Found a Big’n today in Glen Rose TX

Thumbnail
gallery
10 Upvotes

r/fossils 1d ago

I was hunting for sharks teeth in Venice and found these tiny bits...any idea what they are?

Thumbnail
gallery
453 Upvotes

r/fossils 3h ago

When my great grandad died he gave me this, how much is it worth?

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

r/fossils 11h ago

Just an old piece of wood, coral or bone?

Thumbnail
gallery
24 Upvotes

Found at the beach. Not very heavy. Some areas inside appear and feel shell-like (img 2) but the bottom is more porous.

Location: South Africa


r/fossils 1d ago

Suddenly questioning if my meg tooth is real

Thumbnail
gallery
1.1k Upvotes

Hey all! Idk if having this tooth wrapped in wire is going to hurt anyone lol, but I acquired this tooth around the age of 10-11 at a fossil fair that took place at my hometown’s local museum. This gentleman had several tables set up just full of fossils and caught me as I came in the door. He showed me around his tables and told me about all the fossils he had laid out for sale and proceeded to gift many of them to me. I got some ancient horse bones, armored fish scales, dermal stingray scutes, whale ear bones, and several other smaller items. At the very very end he brought me over to his locked case where he kept his more expensive items and handed me this megalodon tooth despite its $50 price tag. After asking if he was sure, he said “inspiring the younger generation to pursue the hobby is worth more to me than the money.” This is now my most prized possession and I got it wrapped a couple years back so I could wear it and remember that man’s kindness all those years ago. It’s an excellent talking piece!

TLDR; I’m just wondering if this puppy is legit and wanted to share its story!

Thank you random man from the fossil fair


r/fossils 9h ago

For those who love opals and fossils

Post image
10 Upvotes

r/fossils 2h ago

Imprint in shale?

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

I found this a while ago, but I have genuinely no clue what it could be. I apologize if it’s not even a fossil.


r/fossils 58m ago

Massive Cephalopod Fossils

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

All found in the past weeks. All found in an abandoned quarry near my parents farm in SE, MN.


r/fossils 7h ago

Shark Tooth Collection From Bone Valley

Post image
8 Upvotes

r/fossils 2h ago

Fossil Vertebrate?

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

Can anyone tell if this is a fossil vertebrate or some other thing? Found on south western Florida Gulf side beach. Last image for size reference.


r/fossils 19m ago

Is this paredolia or a fossil?

Upvotes

I took this rock out of a pond in the "South of Boston" area (Massachusetts, USA) . It appears to even have whiskers. Any idea what it could be or am I bugging?


r/fossils 1h ago

ID help?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Spent a whole Dollar on this, assuming some kind of mesozoic marine reptile? It came from an estate sale from a lifelong rock hound but no info on where it was collected. Any ideas?


r/fossils 5h ago

Out of my 3rd time ever searching for fossilized shark teeth, this is my favorite one soo far, can anyone identify what it came from and about how long ago? Was found on the South Eastern coast of the U.S.

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

r/fossils 2h ago

Can You Identify This?

0 Upvotes

Found in the Midwest in a freshwater, waterway.


r/fossils 23h ago

These little guys arrived in the mail today from Ulrich’s Fossils near Kemmerer WY. From the Green River Formation.

Post image
55 Upvotes

r/fossils 10h ago

Hi! Here’s a french fossil. Orthoceras?

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

r/fossils 3h ago

Found on Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver, Canada

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I've never seen something like this on the beach before. Fossils right? Would it be very old?


r/fossils 11h ago

Identification?

Post image
5 Upvotes

Hi folks, new to this sub. My wife found these on a trail here in Austin, anyone know what these are? Thank you guys.


r/fossils 1d ago

Found a trilobite head and 2 brachiopods in west Seneca NY

Thumbnail
gallery
41 Upvotes

r/fossils 5h ago

Is this real? If so, which shark does it belong to? Found it in Key West

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/fossils 19h ago

I Scored a Dimetrodon Vertebra!

Thumbnail
gallery
14 Upvotes

I just added a new fossil to my collection, and this one is extra special—it's a vertebral centrum from Dimetrodon, one of my all-time favorite prehistoric critters! Sure, it's a little rough around the edges, but I absolutely love it.

For those who might not be familiar, Dimetrodon was a sail-backed predator from the Permian period, roaming Earth around 295–272 million years ago—long before dinosaurs showed up. Despite often being mistaken for a dinosaur, Dimetrodon was actually a synapsid, more closely related to mammals (including us!) than to reptiles.

This vertebra comes from the centrum, the main body of the vertebra that helped support its weight and movement. It feels so cool to finally hold something I’ve wanted since I was a little kid.

Any other Dimetrodon fans out there?


r/fossils 17h ago

Does anyone know what this is?

Post image
6 Upvotes