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Here are two links to posts dealing with how to post pictures on Black River Fossils forums.
1. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by ditchweezil
2. How to Post Pictures on Black River Fossils Forums by Daryl
Hello all,
I'm a new member here. I really enjoy fossil hunting and sharing my finds with others. I would consider myself a rookie, but I've been able to find some very nice fossils.
I'd like to ask you all if this Hemipristus that I found a while back might be the biggest on record. I'll try to figure out how to post a picture (1.4mb) here for you to see, but it measures approx 2 inches across the base and exactley 2 1/4 inches diagonal length. Anyone know of a larger one?
Scott Flavelle
Scott, there's an old forum thread here that talks about monster Hemis, back on the 24th page of these threads, that makes mention of Hemis measuring over 3 inches. I've seen quite a few in the 2 to 2-14 inch size, though I've never found one that size myself. I can't help but doubt the claims of 3-inch plus Hemis, but I sure would love to be proven wrong on that! Does anyone have any pics of these Hemi monsters!
A few years ago I walked out of the Lee Creek mine with one of the guides who had been collecting these "larger" hemi's for some time. He had several over 2", but I don't think any were over 2.5", which is huge!!! Personally, until I see a 3" hemi I would suggest they don't exist (shh!this is my trick to bait someone into posting a pic of their 3" hemi). With Megs, 6" appears to be the what I think most would consider to be the lower end of the maximum size, and 7" being close to the upper end of the maximum size. For hemi's, I'm going to guess that a comparable range is 2" up to a mximum of 2.5". I really hope that something bigger than that exists, simply because I would love to see it, especially if it's an upper lateral...could you imagine how big that monster would look. I think the biggest hemi's I've ever seen were both right around the 2 1/4" mark, one from Bone Valley formation in FL, and one from Lee Creek. My personal best is an upper lateral hemi just a hair over 1 3/4" from Calvert Cliffs. I have a ton of hemi's at 1 5/8" or smaller, but for the cliffs, 1 3/4" seems to be near that upper range for maximum size. And for you shark jaw lovers/collectors, could you imagine having a "modern" hemi jaw that has upper teeth measuring 2" or greater? It would be one of the wickedest looking jaws ever!!! I'd rather have one of those than a great white jaw with 2" teeth.
Daryl.
Scott - First off, congrats on a monster hemi. I think any hemi over 2" is huge; I have one in about 18 years of collecting. The largest that I have seen are from the Bone Valley Formation in Florida and also the Miocene in Lee Creek. That species may have reahced in pennacle of size in the late Miocene/early Pliocene, but I am not an expert. I hope to see a picture soon!
DF
Thanks for the reply's. I too would like to see a picture of one of those "Monster Hemi's." I received a couple replies to some emails I sent out asking if the tooth I found is among the largest. So far, 2 1/2" seems to be the largest. I'm guessing they are talking diagonal measurement, since they didn't specify. I'm going to try and post a picture of mine here using the "Pic posting" instructions. If it doesn't show up here, the picture can be found in the gallery, titled: 2.25 Hemi. Should be on page 7 .[THB]DSC01448v1.jpg[/THB]
Ditto's Scott on that huge Hemi - the picture posted just fine. The measurements that folks refer to (unless stated otherwise), are almost always the "diagonal" length, measured from the tip of the root loot, down to the tip of the crown (along the longest side).
I happened to be surfing eBay tonight and came across a couple of auctions for 2" hemi's. I hardly ever see these up for sale. The ones I've seen in the past usually had a little bit of damage, but because of their huge and rare size, they still sold for close to $200 or more. What's funny is that most hemi's under 2" barely sell for anything substantial unless they are pristine and have some awesome colorations like the ones from Bone Valley.
Scott, record or not, that tooth is surely one to be proud of! Without being too specific, where did you find that monster? I do almost all of my hunting along the Chesapeake Bay, and the colors on your tooth look very similar to my largest Hemi, which measures 1-9/16ths.
Thanks Tom,
I actually found it very close (within 5 miles) from where I live. KB Homes was developing a small residential community in North Fort Myers (Florida) which also happens to be about 1/2 of a mile north of the Caloosahatchee River. (Many well preserved fossil have come from the "Caloosa.") I asked for and received permission to look through a large hill of dirt that came from a large pond that was dug in the community. All new communities down here do this so they can use the dirt from the pond, lake, etc.. for fill dirt to elevate the houses and condos above flood level. That's where I found this tooth. Surprisingly, I didn't find much more there and after about 6 more trips, I stopped looking there.
Scott
Finally I figured out how it works.
Thanks for explaning
These are all above the 2" (largest one just a hair from 2 1/4")
It took me some time to finally get some of these "monsters"
But what a beauties they are.
Kind regards,
Dutchy