Nancy
Fossil collecting is every bit as addictive as modern shells!  Once you have
two fossils, then you will have a collection and on it goes.....
I'll ask my husband Joe about your fossil.  He may be able to shed some light.
The usual definitive publication that fossil people start with might be the
"Treatise of Invertebrate Paleontology".  It's not something you would buy
though - there are many (how many?) volumes and many have been or are being
re-written. It is a technical and taxonomic treatment of all invertebrates, at
least as they were known whenthe particular volume was written. I know there
are people here on Conch-L that could probably tell you whcih volume you could
look in to start you off.

Nancy Smith wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Question for you fossil folks; this weekend I purchased my first fossil
> (geez I hope this isn't as addicitve as modern gastropods...)  at what I
> believe to be a reputable dealer.   I searched online for information
> however have not found too much as yet.  I was wondering if anyone might
> shed some light on my new addition.
>
> It is identified as Siphocypraea problematica, Heilprin, 1887.  It's 50.7
> mms long and retains a pale yellowish tan dorsum with some vague
> spotting.   The teeth and siphons are entirely intact and it's really
> lovely, even has some very slight gloss remaining.  It's locality data is
> from the Cochran pit, LaBelle, FL in the middle Caloosahatchee
> beds.  Pliocene period, "2 1/2 million years old".   Washed from pit
> wall.   It is also noted as extinct.   The posterior siphon is curled over
> upon itself in a "pig tail" configuration; very graceful and beautiful
> lines, and certainly more extensive an opening posteriorly than any modern
> Cypraea I have seen.
>
> Are there any modern "relatives" to this species?  This is my first
> encounter with fossils of any kind and I'm becoming quite
> interested...    any information at all would be great.   Was this a deep
> water species, coral, rock...?  Are there books for identification of
> fossil species such as the "Compendium" is for modern shells?     Have many
> Cypraea fossils been identified formally?   Information on where I might go
> to search for myself in south Florida would be a bonus but I have heard
> that these types of places are not open to the public...
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Nancy Smith
> Sunrise FL soon to be Boynton Beach FL :)