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
  -
Thecostraca
 Balanomorpha - Balanidae
Balanus sp. Da Costa 1778 barnacle
 Balanomorpha - Tetraclitidae
Tetraclita squamosa Bruguière 1789 green volcano barnacle
SUBSPECIES: Tetraclita squamosa rubescens
Polychaeta
 Spiomorpha -
Gastropoda
 Patellida - Lottiidae
"Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta, "Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra, "Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis, "Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula, "Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum, Acmaea sp. n. sp., Acmaea funiculata, Acmaea mitra
"Acmaea pelta" = Lottia pelta Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
"Acmaea scabra" = Lottia scabra Gould 1846 limpet
"Acmaea digitalis" = Lottia digitalis Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
"Acmaea limatula" = Lottia limatula Carpenter 1864 limpet
"Acmaea scutum" = Lottia scutum Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
Acmaea sp. n. sp. Eschscholtz 1830 limpet
Acmaea funiculata Carpenter 1864 limpet
Acmaea mitra Eschscholtz 1833 limpet
 Heterostropha - Pyramidellidae
Odostomia cf. virginalis Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
Turbonilla cf. valdezi Dall and Bartsch 1907 snail
Odostomia cf. io Dall and Bartsch 1909 snail
 Heterostropha - Trimusculidae
Trimusculus reticulatus Sowerby 1835 button snail
 Trochoidea - Tegulidae
"Tegula pulligo" = Promartynia pulligo
"Tegula pulligo" = Promartynia pulligo Gmelin 1791 snail
 Trochoidea - Liotiidae
Liotia fenestrata Carpenter 1864 snail
 Trochoidea - Phasianellidae
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides
"Tricolia cf. pulloides" = Eulithidium pulloides Carpenter 1865 snail
 Trochoidea - Trochidae
Halistylus pupoideus, Calliostoma cf. ligatum, "Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale, "Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea, "Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis
Halistylus pupoideus Carpenter 1864 top snail
Calliostoma cf. ligatum Gould 1849 top snail
"Tegula funebralis" = Chlorostoma funebrale Adams 1855 top snail
"Tegula brunnea" = Chlorostoma brunnea Philippi 1849 top snail
"Pupillaria cf. optabilis" = Lirularia optabilis Carpenter 1864 top snail
 Trochoidea - Turbinidae
"Pupillaria cf. succincta" = Margarites (Pupillaria), "Pupillaria cf. oldroydi" = Margarites (Pupillaria), Homalopoma cf. baculum, "Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum, Arene acuticostata, "Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa
"Pupillaria cf. succincta" = Margarites (Pupillaria) snail
"Pupillaria cf. oldroydi" = Margarites (Pupillaria) snail
Homalopoma cf. baculum Carpenter 1864 snail
"Homalopoma carpenteri" = Homalopoma (Homalopoma) luridum Dall 1885 snail
"Astraea gibberosa" = Pomaulax gibberosa Dillwyn 1817 red turban
 Lepetellida - Fissurellidae
Puncturella cf. cooperi Carpenter 1864 puncturella
Diodora aspera Rathke 1833 snail
 Lepetellida - Haliotidae
Haliotis cracherodii Leach 1814 abalone
Haliotis rufescens Swainson 1822 abalone
 Sorbeoconcha - Procerithiidae
"Bittium cf. attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum, "Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum
"Bittium cf. attenuatum" = Lirobittium attenuatum Carpenter 1864 snail
"Bittium armillatum" = Lirobittium armillatum Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda -
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi
"Barbarofusus ? arnoldi" = Harfordia arnoldi Cossmann 1903 snail
 Neogastropoda - Conidae
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus
"Conus californicus" = Californiconus californicus Reeve 1844 cone shell
 Neogastropoda - Mangeliidae
"Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata, "Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia), "Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia), "Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa
"Mangelia variegata" = Tenaturris variegata Carpenter 1864 snail
"Mangelia cf. nitens" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"Mangelia aff. rhyssa" = Cythara (Mangelia) snail
"Mangelia interfossa" = Perimangelia interfossa Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitromorphidae
"Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri
"Mitromorpha cf. filosa" = Mitromorpha carpenteri Glibert 1954 snail
 Neogastropoda - Turridae
Pseudomelatoma cf. torosa Gabb 1864 turrid
 Neogastropoda - Siphonaliidae
Calicantharus fortis Carpenter 1866 snail
 Neogastropoda - Columbellidae
"Mitrella carinata" = Alia carinata Hinds 1844 dovesnail
Amphissa versicolor Dall 1871 snail
Mitrella tuberosa Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Fasciolariidae
 Neogastropoda - Buccinidae
"Searlesia" dira Reeve 1846 true whelk
 Neogastropoda - Cystiscidae
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula
"Gibberulina pyriformis" = Granulina margaritula Carpenter 1857 snail
 Neogastropoda - Muricidae
"Ocenebra cf. interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa, "Ocenebra foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata, "Ocenebra cf. lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida, Ceratostoma foliatum
"Ocenebra cf. interfossa" = Paciocinebrina interfossa Carpenter 1864 murex snail
Subspecies: Ocenebra interfossa clathrata
"Ocenebra foveolata" = Paciocinebrina foveolata Hinds 1844 murex snail
"Ocenebra cf. lurida" = Paciocinebrina lurida Middendorff 1848 murex snail
Ceratostoma foliatum Gmelin 1791 murex snail
 Neogastropoda - Olividae
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata
"Olivella biplicata" = Callianax biplicata Sowerby 1825 olive snail
 Neogastropoda -
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior, "Mitromorpha aspera" = Cymakra aspera
"Mitromorpha cf. gracilior" = Cymakra gracilior Tryon 1884 snail
"Mitromorpha aspera" = Cymakra aspera Carpenter 1864 snail
 Neogastropoda - Mitridae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae
"Mitra idae" = Mitra (Atrimitra) idae Melville 1893 mitre shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Velutinidae
"Lamellaria rhombica" = Marsenina rhombica, "Velutina aff. laevigata" = Velutina velutina
"Lamellaria rhombica" = Marsenina rhombica Dall 1871 snail
"Velutina aff. laevigata" = Velutina velutina Müller 1776 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Naticidae
"Cryptonatica cf. clausa" = Cryptonatica affinis, "Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii
"Cryptonatica cf. clausa" = Cryptonatica affinis Gmelin 1791 moon snail
"Lunatia cf. lewisii" = Euspira lewisii Gould 1847 moon snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Hipponicidae
Antisabia panamensis2 Adams 1852 hoof shell
Hipponix tumens Carpenter 1864 hoof shell
 Sorbeoconcha - Littorinidae
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata, "Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata, "Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae, "Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata
"Lacuna unifasciata" = Lacuna (Epheria) unifasciata Carpenter 1857 periwinkle
"Lacuna cf. carinata" = Lacuna (Epheria) carinata Gould 1848 periwinkle
"Littorina planaxis" = Littorina (Neritrema) keenae Rosewater 1978 periwinkle
"Littorina scutulata" = Littorina (Littorina) scutulata Gould 1849 periwinkle
 Sorbeoconcha - Cerithiopsidae
 Sorbeoconcha - Triphoridae
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus, "Metaxia cf. diadema" = Metaxia convexa
"Triphora cf. pedroana" = Monophorus pedroanus Bartsch 1907 snail
"Metaxia cf. diadema" = Metaxia convexa Cerpenter 1857 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Barleeiidae
Amphithalamus inclusus Lozouet 1998 snail
Amphithalamus cf. tenuis Bartsch 1911 snail
""Diala" cf. marmorea" = Pseudodiala acuta Carpenter 1864 snail
Barleeia subtenuis Carpenter 1864 snail
"Rissoina cf. coronadoensis" = Barleeia coronadoensis Bartsch 1920 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Rissoidae
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea, ""Rissoina" cf. aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta, "Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae, "Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta, Alvania aff. dinora, Alvania cf. lirata, Alvania sp. n. sp., Rissoina cf. hannai, Rissoina cf. bakeri, "Rissoina aff. dalli" = Zebina dalli
"Alvania purpurea" = Alvinia purpurea Dall 1871 snail
""Rissoina" cf. aequisculpta" = Alvinia aequisculpta Keep 1887 snail
"Alvania cf. oldroydae" = Actonia oldroydae Bartsch 1911 snail
"Alvania cf. acutelirata" = Actonia compacta Carpenter 1864 snail
Alvania sp. n. sp. Risso 1826 snail
"Rissoina aff. dalli" = Zebina dalli Bartsch 1915 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Caecidae
Caecum californicum, "Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum, "Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum
Caecum californicum Dall 1885 snail
"Caecum dalli" = Caecum quadratum Carpenter 1857 snail
"Fartulum occidentale" = Fartulum dextroversum Carpenter 1857 snail
 Sorbeoconcha - Assimineidae
 Sorbeoconcha - Vermetidae
Petaloconchus complicatus Dall 1908 worm shell
"Spiroglyphus lituellus" = Dendropoma lituella Morch 1861 worm shell
"Aletes squamigerus" = Thylacodes squamigerus Carpenter 1857 worm shell
 Neotaenioglossa - Calyptraeidae
Crepidula perforans Valenciennes 1846 slipper shell
Crepidula onyx Sowerby 1824 slipper shell
Crepidula princeps Conrad 1855 slipper shell
Crepidula cf. excavata Broderip 1834 slipper shell
Crepidula adunca Sowerby 1824 slipper shell
Crepipatella lingulata Gould 1846 slipper shell
 Cerithioidea - Cerithiidae
"Bittium eschrichtii" = Neostylidium eschrichtii
"Bittium eschrichtii" = Neostylidium eschrichtii Middendorff 1849 cerith snail
Subspecies: Bittium eschrichtii montereyense
 Vanikoroidea - Eulimidae
"Balcis cf. thersites" = Melanella thersites, "Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra
"Balcis cf. thersites" = Melanella thersites Carpenter 1864 snail
"Balcis cf. prefalcata" = Vitreolina macra Bartsch 1917 snail
 Basommatophora - Siphonariidae
Bivalvia
 Mytilida - Mytilidae
"Modiolus fornicatus" = Modiolus carpenteri, Mytilus californianus
"Modiolus fornicatus" = Modiolus carpenteri Soot-Ryen 1963 mussel
Mytilus californianus Conrad 1837 mussel
 Arcida - Glycymerididae
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis
"Glycymeris subobsoleta" = Glycymeris septentrionalis Middendorf 1849 clam
 Arcida - Arcidae
"Arca sisquocensis" = Arca (Arca) sisquocensis
"Arca sisquocensis" = Arca (Arca) sisquocensis Reinhart 1937 ark
 Pectinida - Pectinoidae
"Chlamys hastatus" = Chlamys hastata, "Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea
"Chlamys hastatus" = Chlamys hastata Sowerby 1842 scallop
"Hinnites giganteus" = Crassadoma gigantea Gray 1825 scallop
 Carditida - Carditidae
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri, Milneria minima
"Glans subquadrata" = Glans carpenteri Lamy 1922 clam
Milneria minima Dall 1871 clam
 Lucinida - Lucinidae
Epilucina californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Hiatellida - Hiatellidae
Hiatella cf. arctica, "Panope cf. generosa" = Panopea generosa
Hiatella cf. arctica Linnaeus 1767 clam
"Panope cf. generosa" = Panopea generosa Gould 1850 clam
 Cardiida - Lasaeidae
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni
"Lasaea cf. cistula" = Lasaea adansoni Gmelin 1791 kelly clam
 Cardiida - Cardiidae
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii
"Clinocardium nuttallii" = Clinocardium (Clinocardium) nuttallii Conrad 1837 cockle
 Cardiida - Semelidae
Cumingia californica Conrad 1837 clam
 Cardiida - Psammobiidae
"Gari californica" = Gari (Gobraeus) californica
"Gari californica" = Gari (Gobraeus) californica Conrad 1849 clam
 Cardiida - Mactridae
"Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii
"Schizothaerus nuttalli" = Tresus nuttallii Conrad 1837 clam
 Cardiida - Veneridae
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera, Humilaria perlaminosa, "Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii, "Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea, "Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides, "Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla, Saxidomus nuttalli
"Irus lamellifer" = Irusella lamellifera Conrad 1837 venus clam
Humilaria perlaminosa Conrad 1855 venus clam
"Ventricolaria fordii" = Globivenus fordii Yates 1890 venus clam
"Protothaca staminea" = Leukoma staminea Conrad 1837 venus clam
"Petricola carditoides" = Petricola (Petricola) carditoides Conrad 1837 venus clam
"Transennella tantilla" = Nutricola tantilla Gould 1853 venus clam
Saxidomus nuttalli Conrad 1837 venus clam
 Cardiida - Ungulinidae
Diplodonta orbella Gould 1851 clam
 Cardiida - Chamidae
Chama arcana1 Bernard 1976 jewel box
 Pholadida - Pholadidae
Penitella penita Conrad 1837 clam
Polyplacophora
 Neoloricata - Mopaliidae
Mopalia hindsii Sowerby 1847 chiton
 Chitonida - Ischnochitonidae
Tonicella cf. lineata Wood 1815 lined red chiton
Stenoplax sp. Carpenter 1879 chiton
Rhynchonellata
 Terebratulida - Terebrataliidae
Echinoidea
 Camarodonta - Strongylocentrotidae
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Stimpson 1857 sea urchin