Fossils
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Fossils |
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| Museum Quality Jurassic Fossils from Germany |
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HOLZMADEN CRINOID This elegant crinoid stands nearly six feet tall. Commonly called “sea lilies”, crinoids were animals that were part of a large group of marine invertebrates known as echinoderms that includes starfish and sea urchins. The delicate beauty of this specimen is attached to a piece of Jurassic wood and prepared by the finest experts in Germany. Crinoids from the Holzmaden shales are one of the most sought after fossils and have become more difficult to obtain. CRINOID "Seirocrinus subangularis" Jurassic Period - approx.170 million years old Liss epsilon Posidon shale, Holzmaden, Germany Matrix: 69" x 38" This fine specimen attached to a tree fragment has been meticulously prepared |
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Shiny enameled scales protected this Jurassic fish. Rhomboidial ganoid scales arranged in longitudinal rows exhibit the extraordinarily detailed preservation and preparation of this exceptional specimen. Lepidotus is a pycnodont, meaning ‘densely packed teeth’, and used its hemispherical teeth to crush thick-shelled invertebrates such as bivalves and gastropods. A large operculum covered the gills and projecting knobs protected the skull. Often the scales and head bones are the only parts preserved making a whole fossil specimen such as this even more rare. The back is reinforced with fiberglass and has recessed slots for wall display. FISH “Lepidotus sp” Jurassic Period – approx. 180 million years old Holzmaden, Germany Matrix: 60”x 45” Specimen: 32”x 12” |
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This is a rare example of an amphibian from the Permian swamps of what is now southern Germany. It has yet to be classified, making it the only example of its kind. Years of preparation went into preserving the extraordinary detail and three-dimensional presentation of the body, appendages and head. The displacement of the lower jaw exposes the often hidden teeth. The plates of the head retain the original distinct texture of the bone and eye orbits. This specimen was discovered before the permanent prohibition of fossil collecting in this region. The degree and the quality of the fossil preservation alone make this among the finest examples of an extremely rare specimen. The matrix has been reinforced and the fossil has been stabilized to meet museum standards. AMPHIBIAN “Sclerocephalus sp.” Further classification pendingPermian Period – approx. 280 million years old Holzmaden, Germany Matrix: 37” x 23” Specimen: 28” long |
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Resembling the modern parrot fish, this Gyrodus circularis is one of the largest and finest specimens available. This complete and remarkably preserved Moon Fish shows exceptional preservation of all of its large diamond-shaped scales. The teeth in its upper and lower jaws are rounded and uniquely three-dimensional in this very large specimen. These teeth are adapted for chewing coral and crushing shells. Its body is very thin and disc-shaped enabling the fish to maneuver between the coral branches of the Jurassic sea. The Solnhofen lithographic limestone provides the best quality fossil preservation anywhere. MOON FISH “Gyrodus circularis” Late Jurassic Period – approx. 170 million years old Malm zeta Solnhofen lithographic limestone, Eichstatt, Germany Matrix: 48.5” x 34.5” Specimen: 32” x 26” |
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This dragonfly is one of the best examples of fossils found in Solnhofen. The fine-grained lithographic limestone of this locale preserves unmatched fossil detail as seen in the delicacy of the wings and long body of this dramatic and rare specimen. Dragon Fly “Aeschnogomphus” Late Jurassic – approx. 170 million years old Malm epsilon Solnhofen Limestone, Eichstatt, Bavaria, Germany Matrix: 18” x 18.5” Specimen: 7” wingspan, 5” body length |
ICHTHYOSAUR “Stenopterygius guadriseissus” Jurassic Period – approx. 170 million years old Posiden Shale Formation, Holzmaden, Germany Matrix: 27” x 63” Weight: 240 lbs |
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| Unique Ordovician and Cretaceous Fossils | |
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When viewed from the side numerous other trilobites can be seen buried within this plate. Only those trilobites found with their backs exposed were prepped. TR 801 DOUBLE SIDED TRILOBITE PLATE Selenopeltis sp. Middle Ordovician Period – approx. 500 million years old Kataoua Formation, Boucharafine, Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco 34 ¼” x 24” and stands 27 ¼” high when displayed on its custom steel stand (not shown). |
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This large and extremely rare species of trilobite survived the first Tremadoc Extinction between the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods. Expert paleontologists have concluded that they are probably the largest of this species ever found.
These Niobids display the slightly raised central lobe and the two pleural lobes of the cephalon with well-defined eyes. Careful preparation has exposed the "terrace ridges" which are asymmetrical ridges running sub parallel to the margin on the outer portion of the pleural region of the pygidium.
The radiating overlay and sheer size of the three trilobites provide a powerful visual statement. WTR 21 TRIPLE TRILOBITE PLATE "Niobides" - a member of the Asaphidae Family Early Ordovician - approx. 525 million years old Matrix: 26" x 28 ½" Draa Valley, Morocco |
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This aesthetically pleasing fossil plate exemplifies the interaction of species in the Ordovician seas covering an area that is now the Sahara Desert. The Brittle Stars remaining largely unchanged for more than 450 million years are found with these rare Selenopeltis trilobites that became extinct close to 350 million years ago. Finding a variety of specimens in association in a single preserved sedimentary layer is a rare and beautiful phenomenon. TR 601 TRILOBITE SELENOPELTIS with BRITTLE STARS “Ophiuroidae” Ordovician Period – approx. 500 million years old Mecissi, Sahara Desert, Morocco Width: 26” Height: 24” |
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Trilobites -One of the oldest animal life forms on earth, flourished in the ancient primordial seas from the Cambrian Period beginning 570 million years ago to the Permian Period which ended approximately 230 million years ago. A possible descendant of these diverse arthropods is the Horseshoe Crab as well as the insect commonly known as "pill bug" which often defensively roll up their external skeleton - a trait shared by all trilobites. |
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Ammonites and Agoniatites - Ammonoidae -These varied and decorative invertebrate specimens evolved from nautiloids in the early Devonian Period around 450 million years ago. They flourished worldwide for approximately the next 370 million years and became extinct along with the dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous Period. Their descendant, the chambered nautilus, can still be found in the warm shallow seas of the Indian Ocean. |
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Dinosaur Teeth and Claws |
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Coral and Crabs |
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Shark Teeth and Turtles |
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Mosasaur Vertebrae Plates -The mosasaurs were a highly successful group of fish-eating reptiles that diversified and grew to 50 feet in length in the Late Cretaceous seas, at a time when the ichthyosaurs had died out and the plesiosaurs were in decline. "Mosasaurus" had a long slender body with a deep flat-sided tail which was used to power its swimming. The hands and feet were modified to paddles, probably used in steering and the long powerful jaws were lined with broad sharp teeth. These were used for piercing the shells of ammonites, a plentiful food source in the warm shallow seas of the Devonian through the Cretaceous periods. |
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Orthoceras |
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Rare Starfish Fossil Plates |
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Sponge Spicules -These sponge spicules are siliceous or calcareous mineralized single crystals produced by large Ordovician sponges that lived in the warm shallow Saharan sea. The spicules were embedded in the walls of the fleshy part of the sponge to make it less appetizing to predators. |
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Fossilized Pine Cones -At the end of the Jurassic Period approximately 150 million years ago when the Andes Mountain Range was forming there was intense volcanic activity. At this time successive rains of volcanic ashes, which were burying the lush forests and dense vegetation of Southern Patagonia, preserved the conifers of the Araucarian forest in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. We were fortunate to acquire this beautiful, cut and polished specimen when exploring Argentina. |
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Petrified Palm Slabs -These colorful slabs of fossilized palm wood, "Psaronius braziliensis", were added to our inventory during a recent trip to Brazil. They are complete with all the pinna traces and beautifully polished on both sides. We also have many smaller complete slabs not shown. |
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Crinoids These specimens are popularly known as "Sea Lilies" or "Feather Stars". |
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