Details of two Rhinopteraspid Fish's Ventral Preoral Regions

[Biotalker]

I thought I would share this recent fossil purchase. I was fortunate to obtain this fossil from the lower Devonian in the southwestern region (Podolia) of Ukraine. Two ventral snout regions of type of heterostracan (jawless) fish called rhinopteraspid are exposed. The bone detail is simply remarkable. There is “tiling” of the underside of the long (rhino) snouts with dentine and/or aspidine (acellular enamel-like substance) in parallel lines arrays with a more uniform bone matrix underneath. The pre-oral-plate is angled in toward the mouth and displays many external textures of bone that presumably aided the fish’s feeding. I didn't expect to see this level of detail.

[Biotalker]

Here are magnified views of the "tiling" on the ventral surface of the smaller snout.

[Misha]

I think I saw that piece for auction, it's a really cool one, especially now to see it with those fine details!

[Fossildude19]

Great Fossils, Mike. Nice detail for sure.

Any chance of seeing the entire plate?  

[Biotalker]

Here is the entire plate approx. 8" (20cm) x 3.5" (8cm), which has also a partial headshield of a Cephalaspid called Ukrainaspis kozlowskii.