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Hi everyone, So I just finished sizing down my fossils. By this, I mean I cut away the excess rock, so the fossils can fit in a frame. While cutting, I had some interesting thoughts come into my head, forming a theory. I found one plate with three Diplomystus dentatus on it. Two small ones, one larger one. I am attaching a picture of this one. I also found another plate with four or five Knightia. Judging from what I found, my theory is that Diplomystus and Knightia were schooling fish. By this, I mean they travel in groups. It seems like a possible theory, because I found so many Knightia and so many Diplomystus in the same plates. On the other hand, I have found more individual Knightia and Diplomystus then multiples in single plates. This is just a theory, just so you know. I honestly don’t know what is truth. On a side note, I did learn that Diplomystus were surface feeding fish, The shape of their mouth shows it. I found this information on a source on the Internet. It makes sense. The way their mouth is shaped, it would make it easier to surface feed. Trust me, I’ve fished for Bass, which have a similar mouth, they feed on the surface occasionally. Top water fishing for bass is fun, but that’s not the point. I’m learning interesting things every day. Really makes me want to get into paleontology more. Jared

Sumi e fossil Drawing Video I wanted to show you a video I took of myself drawing a Diplomystus dentatus with a Sumi e technique. It is about 4 minutes long.

Been a long time since ive prepped out any fossil fishy's. Here is one I started today. This one is from the 'bottom cap'. Just below the 18 inch layer. gots a long ways to go but got a good dent in it. So far the lower jaws are where they are supposed to be, the tail seems to be there, but the really tuff one is the anal fin? We'll see. I have to get my son to cut lots of rock off so it will fit in my air abrasive cabinet? Then i just have to hope that its not to cold to work? But so far, lots of fun!!! RB