One Way To Do Things

[KansasFossilHunter]

In this post I'll show you how I prepped an Ichthyodectid fish tail (fairly common here). After first discovering this fossil I had to consider how to remove it.

Method 1: Attempt to remove the tail in one large slab/chunk of rock

Method 2: Pour plaster directly on the surface of the tail, dig under and flip it

Method 3: Create a jacket around the fossil using layers of plaster and burlap

Since I'm living in the dorms at FHSU right now, my resources are fairly limited. I choose to remove it in one solid block. This is a rather unsafe process of removal as it often leads to a pile of bones. After I had exposed the extent of the tail, I began to undercut the fossil. It didn't come clean.

This is the tail in the car once it had broken from the rock (unplanned but not the absolute worst):

Once the tail made it home, I placed it in a slab of plaster to protect it (really flaky) and to add some character:

Often I'd leave it like that but I figured I'd try something more interesting:

After I cut and sanded the edges, I colored and textured the piece with a mix of natural rock and water. I think it turned out pretty sweet:

I hope you enjoyed

-KansasFossilHunter (Kris)

[DeepTimeIsotopes]

Very beautiful! Might I ask why the whole fish isn't preserved, just as a casual side note? Also, your username looks familiar...

[KansasFossilHunter]

Very beautiful! Might I ask why the whole fish isn't preserved, just as a casual side note? Also, your username looks familiar...

Great Question! It is believed that larger fish (such as Xiphactinus) would bite off the tail of the fish being consumed since it had little nutritional value and was pretty sharp. The famous Fish-Within-a-Fish fossil at the Sternberg museum was believed to have died like that since the tail of the smaller fish is still present. Lots of eating = lots of scraps

Fish-Within-a-Fish:

[DeepTimeIsotopes]

"Great Question! It is believed that larger fish (such as Xiphactinus) would bite off the tail of the fish being consumed since it had little nutritional value and was pretty sharp. The famous Fish-Within-a-Fish fossil at the Sternberg museum was believed to have died like that since the tail of the smaller fish is still present. Lots of eating = lots of scraps"

Wow! I can now say I learned something today. Thanks!

Edited September 3, 2014 by Utahfossilhunter

[KansasFossilHunter]

Any time!

[Ludwigia]

I think it turned out pretty sweet:

-KansasFossilHunter (Kris)

Sweet as sugar. Nice display piece. Good work!

[Auspex]

It appears the student is becoming a teacher

[Kosmoceras]

I am really fond of the end result of this specimen - mighty impressed!

[Castle Rock]

Hello Kris. I would like to ask if you could provide a genus/species identity for this particular fossil? I found a very similar specimen which also seems to be about the same size as the one you have here. Mine measures about 13 inches from tip to tip. I appreciate the assistance! Dave in Midland, Texas

[KansasFossilHunter]

Hello Kris. I would like to ask if you could provide a genus/species identity for this particular fossil? I found a very similar specimen which also seems to be about the same size as the one you have here. Mine measures about 13 inches from tip to tip. I appreciate the assistance! Dave in Midland, Texas

Without diagnostic skull material all the Ichthyodectids (family) look much the same, besides the size. Gillicus and Ichtyodecthys (Genus) are similar in size so people generally refer by the family name "Ichtyodectid". Xiphactinus, being a larger fish, had a larger tail so that might be easier to pin down to the genus level.

-Kris (KansasFossilHunter)

[Fossildude19]

Nice job and great fossil, Kris.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards,