Is this real? And what is this? The owner doesn’t say...

[Nickflemo]

Hi guys!

I saw this specimen and I thought it looked epic. I also thought, is it real? The owner is from Germany and can’t tell me what it is and the matrix has an interesting finish and a wooden back. Some red flags here but what are our thoughts?

any advice would be great thanks. 

[caldigger]

The seller states he doesn't know what it is, but does he know where it came from or age of material?

[Nickflemo]

Good questions... The seller is German so I’m guessing Germany. I have asked him these and am waiting to hear back

[DeepTimeIsotopes]

Look how flush the wood is with the rock.

The actual thickness of the fossil is probably a third of what is seen here evidenced by the seam seen here

[doushantuo]

My first thought(NOT an ID )was that this is( supposed to be)some kind of placodontid(reptile)(CYAMODUS?)

Can't say anything on authenticity,I'm afraid

Placodontids have a very specialized(assumed durophagous) dentition,BTW

 

 

[Nickflemo]

1 hour ago, UtahFossilHunter said:

Look how flush the wood is with the rock.

The actual thickness of the fossil is probably a third of what is seen here at evidenced by the seam seen here

Okay this is epic info - Just because I am a total fossil kook do you suggest it may be bogus? 

[Rockwood]

Is that wood grain the bottom side of the "fossil" ?  I would question just what it is hiding.

There are good explanations for both of these problems though. I can't really make any call from these photos.

 

[Ludwigia]

The photo is so bad that I can't really tell what the fossil is supposed to be, but somehow the whole thing reminds me of a replica of one of the fauna from the Grube Messel.                                   

[Wrangellian]

  I was going to suggest it looks like a replica, but that is based purely on the photos and not on any knowledge or experience on my part about this type of fossil.

[LordTrilobite]

The animal depicted here is definitely a crocodile.

I agree with Ludwigia, that it looks like it might be a Messel replica. Quite a cool piece.

[gigantoraptor]

I think Ludwigia and LordTrilobite are right. 

Specimen from the Museum des Institutes für Geowissenschaften  in Heidelberg.

[Pemphix]

Diplocynodon darwini

Grube Messel

Eozän

Deutschland

 

Most likely Replica IMO.

You may google for "messel krokodile replik" (picture view) and you're finding a lot of the same ones in the same position.

Seems to be a common cast so far...