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ULTRA RARE NEW SPECIES SIEMENSICHTHYS 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 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 have a darker and more contrasting appearance than Solnhofen. 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. Without a doubt, this specimen will likely be one of the finest and rarest fossil fish we will ever offer. It is of a newly discovered species of Jurassic predatory bony fish called Siemensichthys. As of this listing, we know of no other specimen of this recent discovery available on the public market. Our extensive and continual presence in Germany is rewarded by the ability to offer such a rare specimen such as this one. Even with the rare species aside, this fossil possesses a long list of traits that are almost never found in a single specimen. The color, preservation, intactness and articulation is without equal of most specimens of any creature we have ever encountered from the lithographic limestones of South Germany - known for the finest Jurassic vertebrate fossils in the world! It is safe to say that you will be hard-pressed to locate any Jurassic fossil fish that will ever approach the state of preservation and detail that this beautiful example possesses. Typical for Painten lithographic limestone fossils, this specimen offers stunning dark gold contrast of the fossil with respect to the bright cream limestone matrix in which it is preserved on. 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 is the overall heavy mineralization of the body parts including tail, fins, scales and a complete head! You could not ask for a nicer example of this species - AND MORE RARE FOR ITS PROVENANCE FROM PAINTEN! Examine the close-up images. Siemensichthys is known for its thick enameloid skull bones and primitive ganoid scales (rhomboid, interlocking peg-and-socket scales of ancient origin). These unique features are perfectly preserved and displayed in this specimen in the highest and finest manner shown in the close-up images above! The close-up images show the finest possible state with zero fabrication to any part. As a matter of fact, this specimen is without any painting or fabrication of any kind. This specimen's exceptional 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 has been reinforced on the back with another slab from the same region for an overall thickness that is substantial affording not only excellent protection against breakage, but also creating a highly impressive aesthetic to the piece. As a species of very recent discovery, not much information is published currently about Siemensichthys with research ongoing. This species is ONLY found in the layers at Painten, not Solnhofen nor Eichstatt. We can compare this rarity through, to a close cousin, Pholidophorus. Pholidophorids (meaning 'scale bearer') have unique and primitive features that separate them from modern bony fish. These features include a skull made up of thick enameloid bones and ganoid scales which are rhomboid in shape and have a peg and a socket that interlock and articulate with each other like body armor. The upper jaw could move as in modern teleosts. Also like teleosts (bony fishes), Pholidophorids had a spinal column made up of hollow bony vertebrae with spines and ribs attached. They were swift predatory fish that were capable of fast attacks and maneuvers. The Siemensichthys has a broader and larger tail than Pholidophorus with slightly different scales, as well. WARNING: We have noticed an increasing occurrence of heavily restored and painted examples in the marketplace of various types of German lithographic limestone fossils. 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. Some of the largest dinosaurs that ever walked the earth were in existence when Siemensichthys swam in the ancient seas alongside massive plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs! This extremely RARE and boundlessly aesthetic prehistoric fish fossil comes with our HIGHEST recommendation. Whether displayed in an advanced private or a large public museum collection, this specimen will undoubtedly be an important and highly regarded example by all that experience it. NEWLY DISCOVERED SPECIES - RARE BEYOND MEASURE IN SPECIES AND PRESERVATION - MUSEUM CLASS! 17.5" in length x 10.75" high overall with fish 10.25" long $10500 FG007 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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