I was just going through a box of fossils that been sittin here in my office for awhile now. Besides lots of other cool stuff I ran into this little beauty. Diplomystus poweri from Hajoula lebanon and Cretaceous in age. I bought this about 20 years ago. I think its real? I only have my readers on at the moment and parts of the head look a bit fishy? No pun intended.
RB
Of course, I have only ever touched Diplomystus dentatus from the Green River Formation, Eocene. The head of your critter looks like a familiar diplo, but obviously, "shorter" and deeper bodied for its size. These traits to my eye are so exaggerated that it makes me question the legitimacy of the specimen. In addition, the spine of the dorsal fin looks preternaturally long for the total size of the critter. But having no experience of fish from that location or age; I will have to wait for thos