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SLAB ABOVE SHOWS AMAZING 'BUTTON' OF PRESERVED INK SAC IN FULL 3D STATE. PHOTO BELOW SHOWS NEGATIVE IMPRESSION OF THE SAME INK SAC ON OTHER SLAB
FULL PRESERVATION OF TENTACLES IN THE RAREST FORM OF ALL, COMPLETELY TURNED TO CRYSTALS!!! PHOTOS ABOVE AND BELOW SHOWS THIS CRYSTALLINE PRESERVATION ON EACH OF BOTH SLABS
BOTH SLABS ARE COVERED WITH 100% NATURAL AND ORIGINAL FLOATING CRINOIDS. THIS ONE ABOVE HAPPENED TO BE LOCATED IN A NATURAL PIGMENT BAND SO IT TOOK ON SOME COLOR WHICH GAVE IT NATURAL CONTRAST - NOT DYED OR PAINTED LIKE MOST ARE WHEN OFFERED AS SEPARATE FOSSILS.
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ULTRA RARE FINEST POSSIBLE POSITIVE / NEGATIVE SQUID FOSSIL FROM FAMOUS SOLNHOFEN DEPOSIT Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone Formation - Eichstatt, Germany JURASSIC PERIOD: 150 million years ago WARNING: We have noticed an increasing occurrence of heavily restored, carved 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' or 'sales' for the best material - YOU PAY 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 truly exquisite specimens rarely become available for sale on the open market. Over the many years of collecting, preparing and offering a variety of fossil specimens that excel what most museums possess, there are some that will always remain fondly in our memories much like a 'first love'. This specimen most definitely will be one of them! It is a complete double slab (both positive and negative impressions) of a vampyromorph squid of the species plesioteuthis. Spend some researching what other scientific collections, both public and private have to offer with examples of this fossil. Only then will you appreciate just how rare and perfect this specimen is. We have FULL PRESERVATION OF ALL SOFT BODY TISSUE WITH COMPLETE HEAVY CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE TENTACLES. Never before have we seen this form of preservation in tentacles of this rare type fossil. Because squid are mostly soft tissue with only an internal cuttlebone skeleton, rarely are they found preserved as fossils. On this particular specimen, all the planets in the universe must have been aligned for we have anatomical preservation of a type and quality we have yet to see elsewhere. We can attribute such complete and rare preservation to a gentle burial of the original animal and a side orientation of the body when covered. Almost always, are the small back fins not visible as they are pressed flat against the body but here, there is an obvious impression of the stabilizer fins! The cuttlebone has left an exquisite pearly layer in the body impression and a very rare presence of a well-inflated ink sac, seen above as the button-like protrusion in the body. Moving to the head, we see an even more rare occurrence. Since squid are mostly made up of soft tissue, only the internal bullet-shaped skeleton is found. On very rare instances, soft body tissue is seen but even more rare is the presence of the tentacles. When tentacles are found present on the fossil, they are always very faint, barely perceptible impressions or pigmented regions and often incomplete. Whatever happened here when this squid was fossilized, it sure left what is the rarest form of all in soft tissue preservation - a complete conversion of all tentacles to CALCITE CRYSTALS!!! We fully prepared this specimen in our own lab facility so we can honestly and accurately disclose WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE all that was involved in its preparation (Can this be said of most fossil dealers?). As is common with these type fossils, both slabs experienced fractures - one fracture to the positive side and two fractures to the negative side. These fractures DID NOT NECESSITATE ANY CARVING OR RECREATION OF MISSING BODY PARTS ON EITHER SLAB. The TENTACLE ANATOMY IS 100% NATURAL AND FULLY CRYSTALLIZED - ALL BODY IMPRESSIONS ARE 100% GENUINE. Ridges running down the center of the body are preserved anatomy of the squid's gladius. The cuttlebone was flattened on its perimeter and left a pearlized impression which can be seen within the larger soft body that would have covered it. There is limited repair to this area but it is not perceptible. The prepared outline of the squid accurately follows the true and complete fossil impression of all rare body parts on both slabs AS IT WAS FOUND. Without extensive prior knowledge of this type fossil, it is hard to emphasize just how rare this example is. Compare this ultra rare specimen to the others in the world's finest scientific and private collections and we are confident you will not find a better and more complete squid fossil! If you could care less about scientific rarity, aesthetically speaking, this specimen has no equal, as well. For investment, owning the finest of anything certainly has its rewards. The best fossils offer limitless pride of ownership that can be passed down over multiple generations. Such specimens are amongst the rarest of all collectibles and can also offer promising appreciation in monetary value. The back of both slabs has been reinforced with fiberglass to protect against damage. Metal wall-mounting hardware has been safely affixed on these reverse sides as well, to enable a breath-taking side-by-side wall hanging display of the slabs. Squid belong to the family of invertebrates called CEPHALOPODS. Modern members include the nautilus, squid and octopus. They first appeared during the Silurian Period (435 million to 410 million years ago) and were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago). Cephalopods are important index fossils — that is, they often link the rock layer in which they are found to specific geological time periods. Squid and cuttlefish fossils are rare. Impressions of their internal skeletons are all that are usually found preserved. In rare instances, soft body parts and tissue are found preserved, and even more rarely, the ink sac. Modern squid and cuttlefish most likely can be equated with their prehistoric cousins. Extant species have some of the most highly developed nervous systems amongst all invertebrates. They are extremely adept at both evading predators and hunting prey on their own. Their stream-lined bodies are equipped with side fins that enable them to steer when moving. Some squid possess an ink sac which is used at the most strategic moment when pursued by a predator in order to confuse and escape imminent danger. 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. Fossil remains found in the Solnhofen Plattenkalk limestone are considered amongst the world's finest and rarest fossils. This extremely RARE and boundlessly aesthetic prehistoric squid fossil comes with our HIGHEST recommendation. Compared to the ridiculous prices many other types of collectibles are fetching these days, the price on this specimen certainly does not reflect it's true rarity. Beyond that, it is visually incredibly beautiful, much more so than these photos convey. Such a specimen rivals any original man-made art at a mere fraction of the price of an original painting, for example. 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. It certainly would be THE most qualified candidate for textbook or reference book publication. Honestly, A specimen of this rarity and quality deserves a place in a prominent public museum collection for all to enjoy. Some of the largest dinosaurs that ever walked the earth were in existence when this plesioteuthis squid swam in the ancient seas alongside massive plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs! RARE BEYOND MEASURE WITH SUCH ANATOMY FULLY PRESERVED - ALL TENTACLES TURNED TO CRYSTALS!!! THIS SPECIMEN EXCEEDS ANY AND ALL EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN ANY BOOK OR MUSEUM! 14.75" x 10.75" each slab overall, squid 9.75" in length SOLD SQ001 INCLUDES STANDS Actual Item - One Only |
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