James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Last week I went back Caithness area of Scotland in the hope of finding some more Devonian fish fossils. I spent 3 fossil hunting at Achanarras and 1 day hunting at Holborn head quarry. The most productive site I went to was Achanarras quarry. I found fossils of 5 different species of fish. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 The most common species I found there was Dipterus valenciennesi which primitive lungfish. Most of the the specimens I were incomplete with either the tail or head missing, but I eventually find a complete specimen which Inwas really happy. Unfortunately it has a bit of damage to the head. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Another common species I found there Mesacanthus sp. It was filter feeding primitive shark which use to swim in great shoals and was basically like the anchovy of the lake. Again most of the fossils I found were poorly preserved, but John a man I met there was kind enough to give me a very nicely preserved specimen. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 The third species I found at Achanarras was a placoderm called Coccosteus. It was one of the main predators of the lake. I found quite a fww heads shields but no complete specimens. This head shield is the best one I found. It has a beautiful blue tint to it, as well as having all the nice ornamentation. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 The fourth species I found was Cheiracanthus, another primitive shark. This a rare species at Achanarras and only found part of the flank of one. The scales are really nicely preserved. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 These are awesome fish fossils! Do you know if the blue color is due to dephosphatization? Thanks for posting them. Great specimens! 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 The most exciting fossil I found at Achanarras was a complete specimen of Pterichthyodes or turtle fish as I like to call it. It was very strange looking placoderm fish with armoured fins and body. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 The second quarry I went to was Holborn head quarry, which is an impressive clifftop quarry located near Scrabster. There plenty of fish fossils to find there, but most of them were fragmented. I did find one near complete Osteolepis panderi, as well as a beautifully preserved skull of one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Osteolepis panderi head. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 10 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: These are awesome fish fossils! Do you know if the blue color is due to dephosphatization? Thanks for posting them. Great specimens! Thanks! That is really interesting. I didn't know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pterygotus Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Really nice finds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruger9a Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Looks like you had great weather to go with your great finds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Here a few other fossils I found at Achanarras quarry. The fossil at the bottom is a partial head shield of a Pterichthyodes, and fossil at the top is a Dipterus v. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Beautiful locations and finds. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_R_V Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 I am not to sure what this is, but I think this is a small Coccosteus head shield. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Great finds! You are lucky to have that fossil lake to explore. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manticocerasman Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 great report and great finds growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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