Diplurus Skull with Reconstruction image

didnt know they were toothless. Must've been bottom feeders eating weeds and small invertebrates. Perhaps filling the same role as carp do today. You planning on using the air abrader on it? What kind of prep is needed on them?

On 4/2/2015 at 10:50 AM, JimB88 said:

didnt know they were toothless. Must've been bottom feeders eating weeds and small invertebrates. Perhaps filling the same role as carp do today. You planning on using the air abrader on it? What kind of prep is needed on them?

Jim,

I have yet to try air abrading with sodium bicarbonate. I have tried dolomite, but found it a bit too aggressive.

I will have to try on some practice pieces I have.

The Diplurus newarki's larger Jurassic cousin,... Diplurus longicaudatus, had basically the same body/skull design, but was known to be a predator of smaller fish.

That said, I think it is fair to assume D. newarki preyed on small invertebrates. The layers where these fish are found are full of very small darwinulid ostracodes, (Darwinula sp.?) and conchostrachans (Estheria ovata, Cyzicus sp.). The lack of other fauna preserved in these layers of the Lockatong, narrows down the possibilities of other food sources somewhat. However we cannot rule out the possibility they were dining on other insects, insect or amphibian eggs, or other soft bodied fauna, whose structure may not have been conducive to fossilization.

I think D. newarki was probably feeding on the ostracods and conchostrachans. The lack of teeth may indicate the functionality of a crushing, almost beak-like structure to the lower jaw and upper maxillae. This would be helpful in crushing the shells of these invertebrates.

Regards,

Tim-