LARGEST KNOWN PREHISTORIC SCLEROCEPHALUS AMPHIBIAN FOSSIL FROM BEFORE THE FIRST DINOSAURS *AMPH013

Product Description

SPECIAL NOTE:  The current laws in this region of Germany now forbid the collection of these remarkable fossils.  Such legislation has permanently ended the supply of such magnificent specimens such as this one being offered here.  This rare example comes from an old German private collection and was collected long ago before the ban was enacted.  With digging in the formation now banned, these rare German Permian fossils are sure to appreciate in value over time.

This specimen could easily be considered the "Hope Diamond" of giant, rare fossils for there is not another specimen even close to it, on our planet.  Specimens of this nature define and establish the reputation of the owner / exhibitor and set the bar for truly magnificent collections of international importance.  This is the largest known fossil of a complete Sclerocephalus.  At nearly 6 feet in length, this massive prehistoric amphibian is one of the most impressive apex predator fossil specimens you will ever see.  

We acquired this from the original private collector who dug the specimen in the early 1980's when it was still legal to collect from the deposit.  It was never prepared until our subsequent acquisition and preparation of the specimen in our lab.  The layer the amphibian was found on was multi-layered so the skeleton shows wonderfully high relief and articulation.  The entire skeleton is complete with even its heavy armor plates still articulated.  The skull is superb with perfectly preserved eye orbits and nasal openings.  Soft tissue in the tail and body is clearly evident.  There is even a coprolite (fossilized feces) still articulated where the cloaca would have been!  The pose is perfect, as if this giant killer is dancing beneath black, still waters, across the muddy bottom of the swamp in graceful pursuit of its next victim.   The limbs and their related bones are very well-preserved and in an amazing state of completeness.  There are less than 5 Sclerocephalus fossils ever found of this size class and completeness, with this specimen being THE LARGEST. 

This is one of the most impressive specimens we have ever had the pleasure of preparing.  The work was entirely performed with delicate manual techniques.  After 1.5 years of effort, we are proud to finally have it completed and presented here, ready for delivery.  The matrix is reinforced with fiberglass resin and internal supports and weighs several hundred pounds.  Slab thickness varies from approximately 1.5" to 2' in thickness.   

Fine grade fossils of Sclerocephalus IN ANY SIZE are  extremely rare and of great interest and demand to advanced collectors.  Examples of this creature are not common and typically measure a fraction of this behemoth specimen.  This is such a rare and visually remarkable fossil with unusual high skeletal relief in the way we prepared it that it would be a perfect candidate for casting reproductions for museum or private buyers.  

Sclerocephalus was one of the apex predators of the Permian swamps of what is now southwest Germany.  It would be accurate to say this was THE T. REX OF THE PERMIAN SWAMP!  These amphibians could attain lengths as large as an adult human but most fossils are of examples less than 12 inches long.  These monsters thrived during a time before the first dinosaur walked the planet.   This is a once-in-several-lifetimes opportunity to acquire a COMPLETE GIANT PREHISTORIC SKELETON OF IMPECCABLE PRESERVATION.  This creature was one of the top macro-fauna of this era.

IMAGE BY DMITRY BOGDANOV