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Bill snout is in VERY RARE condition with PERFECT 3D preservation as seen above in both images
All teeth intact and still in jaw with upper teeth visible protruding over lower - RARE!
Remarkable THICK preservation of the INTACT ganoid scales and all skull bones
Above two images show translucency and NATURAL color of all scales and fins
Tail is complete with all spines present and fully articulated
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VERY RARE ASPIDORHYNCHUS FISH ON LIMESTONE SLAB Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation - Painten near Regensburg (Kimmeridge), Germany JURASSIC PERIOD: 160 million years ago Famous for producing an astonishing diversity of rare and most intricately preserved fossils found anywhere in the world, the Jurassic lithographic limestone deposits of southern Germany are legendary. Specimens of the Solnhofen Plattenkalk (platy limestone) limestone in Painten rival their counterparts from Eichstatt and Solnhofen in quality of preservation and all are considered amongst the world's finest and rarest fossil deposits. The layers of Painten are older than the layers of Solnhofen and fossils from Painten are distinctly unique in that they have a darker reddish brown and more contrasting appearance than any other site of the Solnhofen Formation. Much research is still ongoing in Painten and new species have been uncovered in a variety of extinct life forms. Specimens from Painten are RARE and should be at the top of the 'must have' list for all advanced collectors of the most uncommon and highest grade fossils possible. In light of the quality of fossils that are found in the Solnhofen Plattenkalk Formation, this Aspidorhynchus acutirostris could easily be considered one of the finest specimens one could discover! To call this rare example "museum grade" is an understatement! On only one other occasion have we ever encountered an Aspidorhynchus of this caliber but due to the nature of the different sites, both this one and the previous specimen each possess qualities that are unique to their provenance but equally spectacular! This specimen is THE ZENITH of this species (or any other species, for that matter) from the entire Solnhofen Formation deposit including the Painten deposits. Aspidorhynchus occurs in the Solnhofen Plattenkalk in Painten but they are smaller in size than their counterparts in Solnhofen. As mentioned earlier the unique qualities of the Painten fossils make this a very uncommon and RARE example in the state of preservation that it is in. It is important to first emphasize that ALL the detail AND COLOR you see across the entire fish IS GENUINE and AS FOUND unlike the plethora of fish fossils from Germany as well as the United States (Green River) and especially Lebanon where much of the "fossil" is painted and carved on the rock by skilled artisans. Most noteworthy is the complete array of bizarre rectangular enameloid plate scales that this species possessed, perfectly preserved in the finest state possible! Amazingly, this specimen exhibits details that almost appear as if the fish is still alive. The head is complete and intact with stunning, undistorted display right to the very end of the rostrum complete and in full three dimensional relief. Furthermore, the overall heavy mineralization of the entire body including tail, fins, scales and head, is well beyond rare in this condition! With the unique characteristics of a Painten specimen, you could not improve upon this exquisite fish fossil. This fossil's detail can be attributed to the meticulous MANUAL HAND PREPARATION in the manner that museum fossils were prepared a hundred years ago. Since no air abrasives or blasters were used, the entire surface of the surrounding limestone is in a beautiful and very natural state - aesthetic beyond measure with stunning natural colored banding in the rock! The original limestone slab has been reinforced on the back with another limestone slab for an overall thickness that is substantial affording not only excellent protection against breakage, but also creating a highly impressive aesthetic to the piece. WARNING: We have noticed an increasing occurrence of heavily restored and modified examples in the marketplace and auctions of this rare fish as well as other Solnhofen fossils. It is becoming commonplace to take a smooth slab of Solnhofen quarry limestone (or even create one in plaster!) and assemble one of these fish into the middle of the slab. The seams where the fish joins the slab are usually well concealed although a seam is sometimes apparent in the poorer fakes. Invariably, the Aspidorhynchus (if that's what it really is) is heavily restored and we have recently seen examples with complete heads and teeth entirely fabricated with relief and detail that can easily fool the untrained eye. Similar to the plethora of fossil fish from Lebanon, the fins, teeth and other detail are painted on with the finest of skill but this is done over a sculpted surface to give the impression of a genuine feature. If the price seems too good to be true, then that should be the first and most obvious 'red flag'. The highest grade GENUINE fossils are rare and have high worldwide intrinsic value. There are no 'bargains' other than paying for the quality you wish to possess. While fossils from this region can exhibit the finest possible preservation of any site in the world, they are extremely rare and occur with less frequency compared to most other fossil-bearing formations. The Aspidorhynchus acutirostris first inhabited the ancient Jurassic seas two hundred million years ago. This fish is a member of an extinct group of bony fishes called Aspidorhynchids (meaning "shield snout"). Key features that set them apart from other teleosts include a very elongated body and snout with large vertically running rectangular scales along the flanks. Surviving from the Early Jurassic to the Eocene Period, Aspidorhynchids were marine dwelling fish that later evolved to tolerate freshwater by the Late Cretaceous. Their long snouts were lined with extremely sharp teeth. Their slender body profile and the fact that the upper jaw bones were immobile preventing the fish from inhaling their prey, suggest that Aspidorhynchus was designed to be a predator, and a quick one at that! Fossil stomach remains of other fish have been found in specimens of Aspidorhynchus. Long and delicate gill rakers indicate that this fish was also able to filter feed to supplement its diet. Some of the largest dinosaurs that ever walked the earth were in existence when Aspidorhynchus swam in the ancient seas alongside massive plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs! This remarkable prehistoric fish fossil comes with our absolute highest recommendation and will surely prove to be a cornerstone specimen in any of the world's most impressive fossil fish displays, either public or private. ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE AND PERFECT EXAMPLES OF ANY SOLNHOFEN SPECIMEN EVER! 10.4" in length x 7.2" high overall with matrix, fish 11.5" long if straightened $7495 FG011 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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