Split Broken Green River Priscacara serrata has cleared its throat

[Biotalker]

I bought this ratty broken split fish several years back at an auction really, really cheap. It was mis-identified as a "Priscacara liops". It was my introduction to Green River fish. This fossil has some revealing details. This is a 7" Priscacara serrata and it displays the characteristic molariform teeth in the pharyngeal region that would normally be hidden in a more intact specimen. This type of tooth is for crushing prey. I would say this broken fellow displays these pharyngeal teeth even more clearly than the picture in Lance Grande's The Lost World of Fossil Lake. And he must have had thousands of specimens to choose from. See for yourself. These broken cheapos can be terrific!

 

The entire fossil

[Biotalker]

head region

[Biotalker]

pharyngeal teeth

[Biotalker]

pre maxilla teeth- only a few left

[Biotalker]

nice scale preservation

[RJB]

Great photos!  Ive never even thought about these fish having teeth?  This is quite awesome to say the least!  Im going to have to take a closer look at the ones I have now.  Im going to have to go look at Lances book too.

 

RB

[minnbuckeye]

3 minutes ago, RJB said:

Im going to have to take a closer look at the ones I have now.

As will I. Thanks for showing this!!

[Nanotyrannus35]

Nice photos! How are you able to magnify the fossil and have it not look blurry?

[jdp]

those pharyngeal chompers are fantastic

[AK hiker]

On 9/26/2021 at 4:36 PM, Biotalker said:

pharyngeal teeth

 

Thanks for showing this and the partially edentulous section as well. I did a web search about fish teeth and learned how profound the jaw was in the evolution of vertebrates.