Hyphalosaurus (H. Lingyuanensis)?

[DawnOfADream]

Hello again everyone! This is a specimen that was advertised as a Hydrosaurus Lingyuanensis.

 

The specimen appears to have had some serious restorative attempts done at from the centre to the lower body. 

 

I wanted to ask if you could please let me know what you think regarding the authenticity of the specimen - particularly the areas that haven't been modified. The first image acts as a refernece, showing the approximate area where the photos have been taken.

Thank you in advance. 

 

Frontal image + reference 

 

Back of specimen

 

 

 

Image 1 - tip of skull

 

 

2 - Neck vertebrae

 

 

3 - upper body, just below neck

 

 

4 - painted on (?) front foot

 

 

 

5- back foot, not looking great either 

 

 

 

6 - tail vertebrae

 

 

 

7 - not even sure what I'm looking at 

 

 

Real ribs on the left with some terribly drawn ribs? 

[Pterygotus]

I’m no expert but it looks pretty bad in my opinion, I could be wrong though...

[ziggycardon]

We need clearer photo's to be able to help I am affraid, it's hard to see any bone detail on these pics.
Looks painted to me but that could just be the photo's

A big red flag for me though that fact that is was advertised as "Hydrosaurus lingyuanensis", no fossil critter by that name. 
Hydrosaurus also known as Sailfin lizards are a genus of living agama's and your creature doesn't match the skeleton of modern Hydrosaurus.

 

I would honestly stay away from this one, smells a bit fishy to me

 

 

[oilshale]

 

52 minutes ago, ziggycardon said:

We need clearer photo's to be able to help I am affraid, it's hard to see any bone detail on these pics.
Looks painted to me but that could just be the photo's

A big red flag for me though that fact that is was advertised as "Hydrosaurus lingyuanensis", no fossil critter by that name. 
Hydrosaurus also known as Sailfin lizards are a genus of living agama's and your creature doesn't match the skeleton of modern Hydrosaurus.

 

I would honestly stay away from this one, smells a bit fishy to me

 

 

Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis - not Hydrosaurus lingyuanensisThe caption is correct (but the pictures look suspicious).

Osteology and taxonomic revision of Hyphalosaurus Diapsida Choristodera from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning China.pdf

[Bguild]

I'm in the camp that a lot of work has been done to this one. The mid torso and upper tail look real based on the photos, but the bone its pretty worn. Based off this image I think the areas in blue are painted on. The upper neck and head might be okay, but if you have a closer shot of the neck/skull in its entirety that would be helpful! All in all, I would look for a less restored Hyphalosaurus.

 

[ziggycardon]

3 hours ago, oilshale said:

 

Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis - not Hydrosaurus lingyuanensisThe caption is correct (but the pictures look suspicious).

Osteology and taxonomic revision of Hyphalosaurus Diapsida Choristodera from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning China.pdf

whoopsie, didn't read the tumbnail only the description in the post 

[DawnOfADream]

Thanks for your input, everyone! 

I also forgot to mention that I did the heated pin test on the tail, neck vertebrae and on one of the leg bones, which turned out fine. Didn't work so well on the dodgy rib area though!

7 hours ago, Bguild said:

if you have a closer shot of the neck/skull in its entirety that would be helpful!

@Bguild I've attached two photos showing the head and neck, let me know if they are helpful, otherwise I can try again.

[Crazyhen]

I would say it is a genuine specimen of Hyphalosaurus, whether it is lingyuanensis or baitaigouensis I could not see it clearly from the photos.  The specimen is not prepped very nicely though, the bones of the body part are mostly worn off.

[DawnOfADream]

Thanks @Crazyhen

I'll have to look for better specimens in the future once the COVID-19 shutdown ends.

[Pemphix]

10 hours ago, Crazyhen said:

I would say it is a genuine specimen of Hyphalosaurus, whether it is lingyuanensis or baitaigouensis I could not see it clearly from the photos.  The specimen is not prepped very nicely though, the bones of the body part are mostly worn off.

I agree. Just very bad prep (grinder probably), not much has been left from the bones.

P.S.: Be aware, that most of the fossil vertebrates of China are banned from export/import...

 

[DawnOfADream]

2 minutes ago, Pemphix said:

I agree. Just very bad prep (grinder probably), not much has been left from the bones.

P.S.: Be aware, that most of the fossil vertebrates of China are banned from export/import...

 

Thanks for your response! Happy to hear you think it's genuine.

In regards to export, this one was from an old British collection from the 1980's so I think (and hope) I'm out of trouble!

[Pemphix]

5 minutes ago, DawnOfADream said:

In regards to export, this one was from an old British collection from the 1980's so I think (and hope) I'm out of trouble!

Who knows....

[Bguild]

The head and neck look genuine. Thanks for the additional shots.

[daves64]

I may be way off, but the area circled (sort of) in white looks like completely different rock from the rest, & the tail alignment with the body right at that point looks off. Combined with how the back of the thing looks, I'm thinking maybe 2 partials with some painted bones in between? I could be wrong. 

[DawnOfADream]

Thanks @Bguild and @daves64, I really appreciate your help and insight.