ODESSA, Texas — We’ve all found a cool seashell or rock while out and about in nature, but imagine finding a fossil that reveals a new species -- that was the case for one Odessa man.
It was a discovery that dates back 18 million years ago, and the species was also named after him.
Scuba diving for ancient marine life in the Atlantic seabed is a passion for Jason Osborne -- one that is allowing him to leave his legacy behind.
Deep in Virginia’s Pamunkey River lies plenty to see and collect.
“There’s a little bit of everything in there," said Jason Osborne, a technical black-water scuba diver, about his collection back after returning above water.
A little bit of everything included a coprolite, or fossilized poop.
“Found it in poop," Osborne said while chuckling.
In that fossilized poop, Osborne found something certainly unique.
“But I had no idea that there was an impression in the coprolite," Osborne said. "I just put it in my bag, collection bag, [and] came to the surface. At the surface then I realized ‘oh my gosh, there’s something in here – there's a bug or a crustacean or something.’”
After years of work and research by several experts, a new genus and species of parasitic marine isopod was determined and named "Calverteca osbornei."
“You never think that you’re going to find a new genus, a new species, and it’s such an honor to have one named after you," Osborne said.
Osborne said the isopod passed through the system of a fish after being eaten.
“In marine environments, the critter either dies or the poop settles to the bottom and it’s covered rather quickly – and it’s covered rather quickly -- and it’s covered and buried and not disturbed over time, and eventually minerals took over the composition of the biological makeup of the coprolite," Osborne said.
It’s not easy black-water scuba diving.
“Sometimes you’re with alligators or snakes or sharks and fishing line and boats and everything else that are working against you, and heavy currents," Osborne said.
Despite those challenges, paleontological history with the discoverer's name on it can be found.
“It will always be there in a scientific record, or even in your family record," Osborne said.
Osborne gave thanks to Dr. Stephen J. Godfrey of the Calvert Marine Museum for spearheading the publication of the new genus and species.
Osborne added that this is a cool contribution to paleontology and the ancient marine ecosystem for how things change over the years.
The coprolite is in the museum’s collection in Southern Maryland.