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Can anyone help me with if this looks like an authentic collection of head shields from boreaspid and cephalaspid ostracoderms? Seller states the species are Spatulaspis, Boreaspis and Cephalaspis. Not sure about the identification of Spatulaspis based on morphology but I've also personally not seen ostracoderms with such detail and wonder if their quality is too similar to the matrix. The stated locality is from Wood Bay in Spitzburgen which fits with Boreaspis and Spatulaspis. I would love to add a beautiful assemblage of stem gnathostomes to my collection but am not positive about the authenticity. Would appreciate any thoughts!

I have just found this little coprolite? yesterday. This is the second time a coprolite-like fossil has turned up in the shale from the Leighton Fm. I am not really sure on this one, though, due to the presence of crinoid stems. The fossil(s) are from the Leighton Formation, Maine; which is Pridoli, Silurian. The main reason I think it is a coprolite is because of its situation in the shale. The rest of the shale around it is relatively uniform, with no fossils whatsoever. The fossils present in it are one crinoid stem, quite a few ostracods, a very small Orbiculoidea brachiopod, and an unidentified piece of rather bluish-black material in the center, possibly some sort of shell. My main concern for its identification as a coprolite is the wide range of rather large fossils in it. I don't know what animal would have had such a diet, except possibly a very large detritivore - but I don't know of any super large ones here. The only animals that I can think of producing coprolites in this formation would be eurypterids, phyllocarids, agnathan fish, and possibly trilobites. A coprolite of this size I would identify as an agnathan fish, but I would defer to some of our fish and coprolite experts for this. @jdp @GeschWhat Below are two photos of the two different sides of the coprolite. If you would like closeup photos of some of the fossils inside the coprolite, I have some available. Just did not want to overload this post with too many photos. Thanks in advance for your help everyone!

I wanted to start this thread on the identification and discussion of silurian fish remains. I have been learning a lot about this subject, and hope to share my own finds and discoveries with you. I also hope that this thread will not only include my finds, but finds of all members of the Fossil Forum who have such materials, so that we may share our knowledge on these amazing fish. Some of our members( @jdp, ... ) are quite knowledgable on such finds, and I am looking forward to working with you guys more. On each post, please include size, stratigraphic data, and taxonomy, if known. I look forward to seeing your specimens.

I have read in multiple papers that there are three theories to the preservation of thelodont scales. First, a rapid burial when the thelodonts have died under still circumstances, e. g., in a lagoon or other still body of water. This results in associated scales. Second, the thelodonts die and disintegrate in the open ocean, leaving behind disassociated scales. Third, the thelodonts were eaten, and deposited as coprolites. Now, I have just found an array of thelodont scales in a single small spot. The stone they are preserved in is a lighter color than the rest of the shale. The majority of the scales are Phlebolepis elegans, with one being of a Thelodus parvidens. I was wondering if it could be an example of a coprolite? It is from the Leighton Formation, Maine; which is Pridoli, Silurian. The pictures below first show the cross section of the specimen, and then the top of it. I will take pictures of the individual scales as soon as possible. It is rather hard to see the cross sections in the pictures, but the bluish pieces are thelodont scales. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be able to be prepped without destroying some of the details. Thanks in advance for your help! @GeschWhat @Rockwood @jdp