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LARGE ASPIDORHYNCHUS FISH ON LITHOGRAPHIC LIMESTONE SLAB - Solnhofen, Germany JURASSIC PERIOD: 150 million years ago 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'. Famous for producing an astonishing diversity of rare and most intricately preserved fossils found anywhere in the world, the lithographic limestone quarries of Solnhofen in southern Germany are legendary. In light of the quality of fossils that are found in Solnhofen, this supreme and large Aspidorhynchus acutirostris ranks at the top even for Solnhofen! To call this specimen "museum grade" is an understatement! There are features preserved on this fossil that we have yet to see preserved in any other example of this species - features that are unique to this fish and most valuable because of this. It is important to first emphasize that ALL the detail you see across the entire fish IS GENUINE unlike the plethora of fish fossils from the United States (Green River) and Lebanon where much of the "fossil" is painted on the rock by skilled artisans. Most noteworthy and exceptional is the complete array of bizarre rectangular enameloid plate scales that this species possessed, perfectly preserved in the finest state possible! Because the Aspidorhynchus was a long and slender fish, most fossil examples show the animal to have been twisted or disarticulated during burial making for a less than aesthetic specimen. Not so with this Aspidorhynchus. You could not ask for a nicer and more beautiful type with all fins complete and fully extended, the entire body slightly outstretched upwards and the head reaching up as if the fish is racing through the ancient sea ready to break the surface in an ambush attack! Amazingly, this specimen exhibits details that almost appear as if the fish is still alive. As seen in the fifth image from the top, even soft body impressions just ahead of the pelvic fins have been perfectly preserved in the rock. The sixth image highlights the finest state of scale preservation you will ever see in this species! The pectoral fins are complete and beautifully detailed. The head is complete and intact with a complete impression to the very end of the rostrum. This specimen'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! The original limestone slab that this fossil has been discovered on is approximately .5" thick and has been reinforced with a heavy backing layer of fiberglass to protect the fossil and allow the possibility of mounting hardware to be attached to the back to enable the slab to be hung on a wall like a painting. 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. VERY LARGE EXAMPLE SHOWCASING ASTONISHING PRESERVATION AND FEATURES! 31" in length x 18" high overall with fish 24" long SOLD FG002 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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