F012 - LARGEST KNOWN EXAMPLE GIANT ASPIDORHYNCHUS JURASSIC FISH FOSSIL

Product Description

ID

Aspidorhynchus acutirostris

FOUND

Solnhofen Plattenkalk - Eichstatt, Germany

AGE

JURASSIC:  160 million years ago

SIZE

51" in length x 33" high overall, fish 32.75" long

CONDITION

100% ORIGINAL WITH NO FABRICATION.  
FISH INLAID INTO LARGE AESTHETIC 
LIMESTONE PLATE.

NOTE

SUPREME EXAMPLE OF A RARE SPECIES
OF FISH FROM SOLNHOFEN - LARGEST
EXAMPLE WE HAVE SEEN OF THIS KIND.  

MOUNTING HARDWARE INCLUDED - Actual Item - One Only

Comes with a certificate of
 authenticity / information sheet

CONTACT US TO PURCHASE THIS

This is a ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME fossil of the Jurassic fish Aspidorhynchus acutirostris.   It is an ULTRA RARE specimen for several reasons.  Foremost, it is THE LARGEST EXAMPLE we have ever encountered measuring a substantial proportion MORE than the largest typical sizes found.  On average, the upper range in length of these fish was from 20" to 24".  This monster measures a whopping 32.75"!  It comes from a collection that dates back over 45 years ago when this fish was first excavated.  One of our partners who has lived in Bavaria where these fossils are found and has over 35 years of intensive experience with specimens from the quarries stated that he never saw a true complete Aspidorhynchus of this length!  While in the past, we have offered this species in the largest typical sizes, never before have we too, ever seen an example of this dimension.   

But not only is this Aspidorhynchus rare in size - its  100% COMPLETE possessing the FINEST POSSIBLE PRESERVATION AND DETAIL.  Every unique feature of the anatomy of this species can be seen.  The long bill of the fish is intact with teeth, deep eye orbit and all skull armor and scale detail.  Every fin is well preserved.  When excavated, a crack ran diagonal from the dorsal tip of the caudal fin across the distal portion of the tail.  This crack has been filled with very minor restoration but aside from this, not a single millimeter of the rest of the fish has any repair or restoration.  THE COLOR IS 100% NATURAL AND GENUINE and shows in a beautiful naturally glossy honey golden yellow.  The thick intact fossilized scales are responsible for the wonderful natural luster.  This fossil's 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 - highly aesthetic with stunning natural colored banding in the rock! 

The limestone slab is heavy with an approximate average thickness of 1.75".  The entire reverse side has been reinforced with epoxy resin and fiberglass and a custom fabricated steel mounting brace has been attached to the back and allows this large slab to be safely hung on a wall that is structurally sound.  Special crating and trucking fees will apply.

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 - Wyoming) and Lebanon where much of the "fossil" is painted on the rock by skilled artisans.  Most noteworthy and exceptional is the complete array of bizarre rectangular enameloid plate scales that this species possessed, perfectly preserved in the finest state possible!  Because the Aspidorhynchus was a long and slender fish, most fossil examples show the animal to have been twisted or disarticulated during burial making for a less than aesthetic specimen.  Not so with this Aspidorhynchus.  You could not ask for a nicer and more beautiful type with all fins complete and body naturally and fully extended.

The Aspidorhynchus acutirostris first inhabited the ancient Jurassic seas two hundred million years ago.  This fish is a member of an extinct group of bony fishes called Aspidorhynchids (meaning "shield snout").  Key features that set them apart from other teleosts include a very elongated body and snout with large vertically running rectangular scales along the flanks.  Surviving from the Early Jurassic to the Eocene Period, Aspidorhynchids were marine dwelling fish that later evolved to tolerate freshwater by the Late Cretaceous.  Their long snouts were lined with extremely sharp teeth.  Their slender body profile and the fact that the upper jaw bones were immobile preventing the fish from inhaling their prey, suggest that Aspidorhynchus was designed to be a predator, and a quick one at that!  Fossil stomach remains of other fish have been found in specimens of Aspidorhynchus.  Long and delicate gill rakers indicate that this fish was also able to filter feed to supplement its diet.

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.  Quarries in the region are privately held and mostly worked by hand on a small scale.  The finest grade fossils are few and far between and much rock must be split to locate them.  The best fossils are most often kept by the quarry owners who themselves, are often collectors.  Some quarries are operated on a large scale but these are now dug with machinery instead of manual labor.  Because of this the rock is damaged and along with it, the rare fossils.  What all this means today is that even fewer fine grade Solnhofen fossils are found and when they are, rarely do the best pieces make it to market.  Occasionally, an old private collection surfaces and specimens are sold or traded.  This is where the rare opportunity comes along to acquire a specimen on a level that truly is a prize find.  Typically, the older material is often the best as it was collected when the deposits were first being worked and quality was in greater abundance.