AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
CANADIAN DOLLAR
EURO
POUND STERLING
US DOLLAR
Product Description
ITEM #
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F096
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ID
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Rhynchodercetis
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FOUND
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Hajoula, Lebanon
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AGE
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UPPER CRETACEOUS (CENOMIAN): 95 million years ago
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SIZE
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25" x x 20" overall, fish is 26" long if straight
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CONDITION
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100% ORIGINAL WITH REPAIR TO STONE SLAB
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NOTE
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IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPROVE! EVERY DETAIL PRESERVED
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STAND INCLUDED - Actual Item - One Only
Comes with a certificate of authenticity / information sheet |
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Appearing as if it is making a sudden attack turn to swallow up two smaller fish near the end of its sword-like beak, this magnificent fossil of the prehistoric needlefish Rhynchodercetis is one of the finest we have ever seen rivaling specimens on exhibit in the most prestigious museums around the world. The preservation (the fossil is entirely original and authentic) is of a level seldom seen in science with a very heavily-mineralized skeleton in dark cinnabar red shown on a large slab with other fossils including a leaf, shrimp, crab and smaller fish. Alone, this fish is a true prize fossilized example of this species but the composition of the plate as a whole with the other fossils makes this a fantastic "scene" fossil showing some of the related fauna and flora of this extinct prehistoric environment. The turning pose imparts a lifelike action to the fossil, making it an extremely impressive wall display piece. The back has been reinforced and a drilled bar is mounted so that the fossil is ready for hanging on a wall.
One prominent feature of this specimen is the amazingly long rostrum of the fish. This example shows one that is VERY RARE because it is 100% complete and original, as is the entire fossil. On the rare event that this species is found, most often only a partial rostrum or poorly preserved body is seen. Other occurrences include much less rare finds of very small proportions to the fish unlike the whopping 26 inch length of this piece. The rostrum alone on this example, is an impressive 1/3 of the entire body length and is COMPLETE. The pose of this piece shows a beautiful spread of both pectoral fins, prominent eye orbits and every minute spine and bone along the entire body.
It is important to note that this fossil is 100% NATURAL AND ORIGINAL WITH NO PAINTING OR RESTORATION and all the other fossils on the slab are in the same "as found" un-restored original condition as well. This separates a quality specimen from "tourist" pieces that dominate the market because many of the shrimp and fish fossils of Lebanon are mostly paint. Fossils from Lebanon are notorious for their artificial painting in areas that were originally missing. Many dealers have no idea that many Lebanese fossils they are selling, from shrimp to fish and rays, are actually heavily restored with paint. We received this specimen in its completely natural state, did some further preparation work and added a layer of epoxy on the reverse side to strengthen the original limestone plate. ALL COLOR AND DETAIL YOU SEE IS ORIGINAL and nothing was painted or restored on this magnificent example. At OVER TWO FEET LONG, this is not only a top quality specimen but it is an exceptionally large one, as well.
Rhynchodercetis was a swift and lightning fast predator of the Cretaceous seas and is an extinct member of the order Aulopiformes, suborder Ichthyotringoidei suborder, family Dercetidae. The name Rhynchodercetis translates into "beaked throat whalt". The fish is rarely found in the fossil record and features an elongated body, small dorsal and pelvic fins back from the head but in the anterior half, and with a small, narrow-lobed tail. Rhynchodercetis was alive when Tyrannosaurus rex was ruling the land in North America and pterodactyls the size of small airplanes ruled the skies. Rhynchodercetis died during the Cretaceous Period and has no living relatives.
Dinosaurs ruled the earth and pterosaurs ruled the skies when this fish swam beneath the waves of a Cretaceous sea.
