Architeuthoceras said:
A few questions, would the fact that most of the sediment entering the western interior sea came from the west, be why most of the squid fossils are found on the eastern side? Do squid have an aversion to turbid water? Or was it because the sea was deeper on the eastern side (limestone and marl in the eastern part, shale and silt in my little corner)?
Oh I wish I could answer those questions, Kevin but I'm afraid I must admit defeat there! I had a search around for information for you earlier on deposition rates and depths in the Western Interior Sea but unfortunately drew a blank. I suppose it is possible that squid fossils could found in the western margins but just have not been located yet, afterall squid are very rare fossils in North America in general, I doubt if to date 20
Tusoteuthis fossils have been identified (my guess). Maybe they are there awaiting to be discovered.....though maybe not.... As you say, I too was under the impression that squid prefer calm water rather than choppy seas but I think Sir Steve may be able to help us with that one. It might be worth dropping Mike Everhart of the Sternberg Museum 'Oceans of Kansas' website an e-mail as I'm sure he could help. Sorry!
Thanks for the kind words everyone. You know, I'm going to have to change my mosasaur drawing as those creatures were broader at the shoulders and not as pot-bellied as I have drawn it. Still it was my first attempt ever to draw one of those things, obviously it was stuffed full of large teuthids at the time it posed for a sketch.
(1000 posts. Already?)