MID-DEVONIAN BIVALVE Grammysia bisulcata (Hall)
This speciman is an excellent example of Grammysia bisulcata, a large mid-Devonian clam that often appears in Crumhorn Mt. rocks associated with spiriferid brachiopods and other shallow-water marine fauna.

A famous discovery involving Grammyia was made early in this century when paleontologist J. M. Clarke exposed a bedding surface of sandstone near Cooperstown, NY and found about 400 starfish and numerous specimens of Grammysia. By tapping on a Grammysia with a small hammer, Clarke removed bits of rock and then found a starfish just below with its mouth up, perfectly positioned, as though killed in the act of devouring the clam. Thus, probably even 380 million years ago, starfishes were feeding on bivalves just as they do today.

Although Clarke's Cooperstown site is less than twenty miles from the Indian Villa Fossil Pit site, unfortunately no starfish have been ever been found atop Crumhorn Mt.

IVFP #070800, 78 x 65 mm., photos by D. Tuttle 08.11.04 Grammysia sp. in situ, Crumhorn Mt.