RJB 2,996 Posted November 18, 2020 In the last couple of months my son and I have purchased some unprepped Lebanese fossil fishy's. There are four known species of guitarfish from the Lebanese provinces of Hakel and Hajula. Rhinobatos maronita is one of these; this species was fist described in 1866 by Pictet and Humbert. Some purty dang cool stuff but the guy we are buying from does not know how to wrap and send fossils over seas! Our last shipment came in many pieces! Not good. My son is working on him to make it right? Aside from that Im going to do what I can to fix things. First up is one side of what I think is a Guitar Fish, Rhinobatus? My son purchased this and this is the 'not so good side' with the other side being in better shape. Every so often I will be back and make more post of these realy neato fossil fishy's. @oilshale I dont know much about the types/specimens of these fish from Lebanon so if anyone wants to chime in and correct me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you RB The back half of this slap used to be in one piece!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FossilDAWG 5,840 Posted November 18, 2020 I know you can make it right, but wow that hurts to see. Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oilshale 1,651 Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, FossilDAWG said: I know you can make it right, but wow that hurts to see. Don I agree wholeheartedly - this hurts! But I am sure you can fix it. Seems to be either Sclerorhynchus atavus Woodward, 1889 or (more likely) Libanopritis hiram. They look quite similar. Sorry, I am not very familiar with fish from Lebanon. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxonimage/id276231/?taxonid=1160708 Sclerorhynchus atavus and the convergent evolution of rostrum-bearing chondrichthyans.pdf Edited November 18, 2020 by oilshale Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rfarrar 79 Posted November 18, 2020 This should be Libanopristis or Micropristis. Sclerorhynchus is a little younger and is found at Sahel Alma rather than the Cenomanian of Hakel and Hajula. I really hate to see things unnecessarily broken. It looks like it can be repaired, but it can never be the same as original. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelivingdead531 1,132 Posted November 18, 2020 That makes me sad to see such a nice specimen broken into bits by carelessness. I know you’ll work your magic and revive it as best as you can though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves64 751 Posted November 18, 2020 The horror! The agony! The utter brutality! Spit & bailing wire ain't gonna work on that. But you know what? I know it'll be just fine & probably won't even look like it got dinged once you're done with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted November 20, 2020 Thanks everyone. I should have done at least a little bit of research before I posted that. That is not Rhinobatus at all. Im gunna hafta check out all those names and see what I come up with. I do thank you folks for the help. What I started on the other day im sure is a Rhinobatus but wont know the species till its done. This one is rather large. At least for me. Im not used to working on fish of this size. I will do most of the prep first and then put it together. Easier to work on the peices that one large piece. And again, this fish was in 5 pieces when I purchased it and it came in 11 pieces. Very painful and very expensive. If the guy makes it right I will buy more, if not, he will never see me again. My son feels the very same way. Not good for business. RB Tail end in on the left. If you look closely you can just see whats left of a penciled outline. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted November 21, 2020 Here is my large fish, ray actually, after two prep sessions totaling about 13 hours. A very very long ways to go! and the farther I go towards the back of this fish, the harder the rock becomes. And I mean HARD!!! Ive never had this hard of rock on any fish ive ever done. Turning into a nightmare!!! RB Not much for 13 hours of work, but its a start. Here you can see how im collecting some chips of rock off this slab for any rock repair down the road. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Top Trilo 581 Posted November 21, 2020 It'll turn out great, I love fossil rays, and live ones too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelivingdead531 1,132 Posted November 21, 2020 Can’t wait to see it finished. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves64 751 Posted November 21, 2020 *hands out the popcorn* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted November 29, 2020 Man-o-man!!! I can now see that this will be about a 100 hour fish!!!? Never had to work with such hard rock on a fish! Ive lost count how many times Ive had to sharpen the scribe tip! Im going to guess about 12 times? 3 more prep sessions sence the last post, so im guessing another 12 hours or so? RB You can see that ive got one heck of alot of cleanup work on this piece! and thats after I finish ruffing it out! But by golly its got a good start to it now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Top Trilo 581 Posted November 29, 2020 Its got a great start Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelivingdead531 1,132 Posted November 29, 2020 It’s looking great so far! Keep up the good work! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ruger9a 822 Posted November 29, 2020 Great job. Can't wait until you finished working your magic on it!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted December 1, 2020 Thank you everyone. I will be doing a few more prep sessions before I post again. May be awhile? RB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted December 8, 2020 3 more prep sessions totaling 11.5 hours. Its now starting to look like its supposed to, (shape/outline) anyways. Still a very long ways to go, but I have to say, I'm having fun again. This is without any doubt, the tuffest fish ive ever attacked! Sticky, sticky, sticky and then more sticky!!! From very soft rock to the hardest rock ever for a fish! and ive done a couple of fish in my lifetime. and then all kinds of stuff in the way. Lots and lots of shrimp parts, fish parts and things that I dont know what it is in all different layers including stuff that seemed to have landed onto this fish when they died with only a thin layer of rock between it and the fish. I havent mentioned yet, but doing the air abrasive cleanup/finish work on this will be my next nightmare! RB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ptychodus04 4,522 Posted December 9, 2020 Those fish are a mess for sure. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon (sadly). I’m enjoying this thread immensely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RJB 2,996 Posted January 8 The holidays are over and I finally made it out to the garage again. I started working on the back end/tail end of this thing today. The very last part of this fish is in 8 pieces and I will get to that later. Looks easy, but I guarantee you its extremely hard! I did not think it possible, but this super hard rock literally beat up my Super Jack stylus!!! Im not kidding! Bits of steel missing from the tip!!! A first for me. What appears to be nural spines? and Im always wanting to call this 'back bone' but should I be calling it 'back cartilage'? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Top Trilo 581 Posted January 8 Looks good! If you say it is "extremely hard" It must be almost impossible. Can't wait to see it all completed together Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
