Unknown Silurian Invertebrate - Fish Scale?

[Mainefossils]

I have just finished preparing this little fossil. I really have not seen anything like it. It reminds me of a eurypterid head fragment, or something similar, but the ridges on the "internal mold" are perplexing. Also, it is horizontally symmetrical, suggesting a scale or segment. 

 

It is from the Leighton Formation, Maine; which is Pridoli, Silurian. The pictures below first show the "internal mold" under raking light, than of it under direct light. The third picture is of the "external mold" under direct light. It does not have any surface detail that would be brought out by raking light. 

 

Thanks in advance for your help!  

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by Mainefossils

[Fossildude19]

Looks like a fish scale, to me.   

 

@jdp

[jdp]

certainly possible

[Tidgy's Dad]

3 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Looks like a fish scale, to me.   

Tim, I think you suffer from FIshy-Pareidolia much in the same way I am afflicted with Brachio-Pareidolia.

However, you are probably correct.

[Fossildude19]

16 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Tim, I think you suffer from FIshy-Pareidolia much in the same way I am afflicted with Brachio-Pareidolia.

However, you are probably correct.

I resemble that statement.   

[Mainefossils]

Thanks everyone for your perspectives! Do any of you have a type of fish in mind? I have gone through all the papers I have access to on Silurian fish scales, and as of yet have not found anything that matches. 

[Pagurus]

42 minutes ago, Mainefossils said:

Thanks everyone for your perspectives! Do any of you have a type of fish in mind? I have gone through all the papers I have access to on Silurian fish scales, and as of yet have not found anything that matches. 

 

I can't ID your find, but  if you haven't already seen it this paper might help a little.  

Microvertebrates from the Silurian–Devonian boundary beds of the Eastport Formation, Maine, eastern USA, Susan Turner, Carole Jan Burrow

"Agnathan and gnathostome remains, associated with lingulid brachiopod fragments and distinctive ostracods, have been extracted from a small calcareous mudstone sample collected from the type section of the Eastport Formation on the northern shore of Moose Island, Maine. The vertebrate assemblage includes osteostracan, anaspid, and thelodont scales,..."

A couple of the images appear to me to resemble your specimen. Maybe.
 

[Mainefossils]

1 hour ago, Pagurus said:

 

I can't ID your find, but  if you haven't already seen it this paper might help a little.  

Microvertebrates from the Silurian–Devonian boundary beds of the Eastport Formation, Maine, eastern USA, Susan Turner, Carole Jan Burrow

"Agnathan and gnathostome remains, associated with lingulid brachiopod fragments and distinctive ostracods, have been extracted from a small calcareous mudstone sample collected from the type section of the Eastport Formation on the northern shore of Moose Island, Maine. The vertebrate assemblage includes osteostracan, anaspid, and thelodont scales,..."

A couple of the images appear to me to resemble your specimen. Maybe.
 

Thanks! This is one of my favorite papers. Most of the microvertebrates found in the Leighton Formation can be identified using it, with a few exceptions. I see what you mean, as the Septentrionia? that is shown in figure 3 is similar, but the ridge pattern is not the same as my specimen. The full paper can be found here: https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ageo/2018-v54-ageo04224/1055415ar.pdf. It could be something similar, but I am really not sure. Thanks for your time! 

[Fossildude19]

10 minutes ago, Mainefossils said:

Thanks! This is one of my favorite papers. Most of the microvertebrates found in the Leighton Formation can be identified using it, with a few exceptions. I see what you mean, as the Septentrionia? that is shown in figure 3 is similar, but the ridge pattern is not the same as my specimen. The full paper can be found here: https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ageo/2018-v54-ageo04224/1055415ar.pdf. It could be something similar, but I am really not sure. Thanks for your time! 

 

There can be much variation in scale/bone squamation/ornamentation, depending on location on the body/skull.

Could be a previously unfound bit. 

 

Might be worthwhile to contact the authors.   

 

[Mainefossils]

1 hour ago, Fossildude19 said:

 

There can be much variation in scale/bone squamation/ornamentation, depending on location on the body/skull.

Could be a previously unfound bit. 

 

Might be worthwhile to contact the authors.   

 

Thank you! I will see about doing that. Thanks everyone for your help and time!