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ULTRA RARE VERY LARGE GYROPTYCHIUS FISH FROM THE DEVONIAN Sanwick Fish Bed - Middle Old Red Sandstone Formation - Orkney, Scotland MIDDLE DEVONIAN PERIOD: 380 million years ago There are so many features of this specimen that put it in a class all its own that its hard to know where to begin. The history of its provenance is as fascinating and rare as the quality of the fossil itself. First, this is an uncommonly large example of the lungfish species, Gyroptychius agassizi. At a period in time when vertebrates were scarce on Earth and trilobites thrived in enormous varieties and numbers, this amazing fish of the Devonian graced a freshwater lake in the region that is now North Scotland. This specimen comes from a very old collection. The entire fish is present from the head with stunning preservation to the large ossified plates right down to the fragile detail of the fins. Articulated across the body are jet black, intact scales still present in their unique diagonal pattern which is a classic trait for this fish. The close-up images show the spectacular quality of preservation down to the detail of each individual scale. This specimen is rare not only for its stunning state of completeness and preservation, but for its size, as well. The limestone layers of North Scotland are amongst the world's most valuable and richest source for Devonian fish. The quarries consist of fossil-bearing layers of what have been known as the Old Red Sandstone Formation, studied since the early 19th century. The Old Red Sandstone layers of Northern Scotland are one of three of the world's most scientifically important and richest deposits yielding fossil fish from the Devonian. The other two sites are at Canowindra in New South Wales and Miguasha in Quebec. A wide variety of freshwater fish can be found in these layers in Scotland from a time when the very first four-limbed vertebrates were evolving. The Achanarras beds, named after the quarry where they were first discovered, can be found in the layers that were laid down in Lake Orcadie during the Devonian period, 380 million years ago. Achanarras Quarry is situated at the top of a hill and is not very large. Since the quarry is now closed, the main central portion is flooded and inaccessible. Many years ago, it was worked for the laminated limestone which was split for roofing slates. The site is littered with a vast amount of slabs. Whole fish are rare and easily broken when found. These fossil beds have been studied since the early 19th century, most notably by the stonemason Hugh Miller. To this day, scientists are extracting fossils from this now closed and protected quarry. These fossils are still providing new discoveries and information on Earth's first fish and other animals unique to this area. Fourteen types of fish have been found in this quarry alone! Gyroptychius agassizi was a predatory lungfish that lived almost 400 million years ago and is now extinct. Lungfish are air-breathing lobe-finned bony fish that had the capability to breathe air by the use of their modified air bladder consisting of multiple chambers. They possessed odd large ridged toothplates designed to crush as much as chew their prey. Gyroptychius had a long, slender body with a shallow head and small eyes. Arranged in diagonal rows were thick rhombic scales made up of a cosmine layer and a thin shiny ganoine layer. These primitive fish also possessed a bizarre rhomboid-shaped caudal fin. The slab this fossil is on is approximately one inch thick and has been reinforced with a layer of fiberglass on the reverse side for added strength. A sturdy metal hanger has been embedded in the fiberglass to allow the slab to be hung on a wall. Where practically all Devonian fish specimens are incomplete and rather ugly and abstract in their appearance, this prize fossil is not only complete but it is highly aesthetic in its natural contrasting hue and wondrous articulation. Rare fish fossils like this rarely come up for sale and are almost always from very old private collections. One as stunning, complete and large as this example is likely to not be repeated again in a lifetime. SUPREME QUALITY OF A VERY RARE FISH FROM THE EARLIEST OF TIMES, DEVONIAN! TRILOBITES WERE ALIVE ON THE PLANET WHEN THESE PRIMITIVE FISH EXISTED! 20.5" in length x 11" high overall with fish 17.2" long SOLD FG012 INCLUDES STAND AND IS READY TO HANG ON WALL Actual Item - One Only |
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