Auspex Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 This specimen came to me from "an old collection"; more details of its history are being researched. Right now, it is sufficient to say that it originated from the Eocene Messel Pit near Darmstadt, Germany. Preservation from “Grube Messel” (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995) is extraordinary: the anoxic conditions at the bottom of what was then a lake prevented bioturbation (nothing could live in the bottom ooze). Complete, articulated skeletons are the rule, with soft tissue evidence preserved; the waste excreted by flesh-consuming bacteria becomes fossilized as a "skin shadow" (Hautschatten)! This is very evident on and around the head of my specimen. Like most fossils from there, it was prepared using the "resin transfer" method, a delicate and time-consuming process. The fossil is exposed in relief on one side by removing the unstable oil shale (which is 40% water) under a microscope with a scalpel; the bones are treated with a preservative, and the shale surface with an hydrophilic lacquer (all the while, the shale cannot be allowed to dry at all). A synthetic resin and hardener is poured over the fossil (a layer of glass fiber embedded for strength); after curing, the slab is flipped over, the remaining shale is removed, and the display side of the bones receive a coat of preservative. Ladies and gentlemen of the Forum, I am proud to present: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Messelornithidae Genus: Messelornis Hesse, 1988 Type species: Messelornis cristata Hesse, 1988 Hands down, this is the best fossil in my collection; I'm a happy camper "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilshale Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 (edited) Congratulations Chas, this is one of the best I've seen so far! Thomas PS: And believe me, I've seen quite a few! Edited March 4, 2011 by oilshale Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Congratulations Chas, this is one of the best I've seen so far! Coming from you, Thomas....>insert fainting emoticon< "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 A Museum-Quality specimen accessioned to a World Class Collection !! Congratulations on a truly Brilliant Bird Chas. Fossil dreams do come true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Auspex, that is a gorgeous specimen. It would be the jewel f many a collection I would believe. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 WOW!!! I'm speechless! Well, almost. Congratulations. You must be VERY happy. I can feel the vibes from over here! Best wishes, Roger Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB88 Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Thats an amazing fossil! Must have cost pretty penny too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 ...Must have cost pretty penny too.... I don't want to think about it... "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Congratulations on a beautiful specimen! Definately a world class fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Congratulations, you finally have one!! Gorgeous specimen, Chas!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchtrilobite Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Wowowowoww ! A real museum fossil ! very very nice! My new website : http://www.trilobite.fr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Thank you all very much! Short of a dino-bird from Solnhofen, one from Messel really is my dream come true. I am so lucky to have gotten such a nice one! Next on the wish list: Terror bird material "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Wow!!!! That is a show stopper. Congrats on the acquisition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Gorgeous. A truly fortunate man to reach a life's desire. Having been duly impressed, I poked around for an artist's rendition. http://paleoaeolos.deviantart.com/art/Messelornis-cristata-48950746 The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreekCrawler Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 For something so fragile to be preserved like that is amazing. It couldn't have gone to a better collector. Congrats on the purchase... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Messelornis is often incorrectly referred to as the "Messel Rail". Although rails are in the same order (Gruiformes, along with the cranes), its closest living relative is the Sunbittern of the American tropics. There are four named species (of two genera) in the family Messelornithidae: Messelornis cristata (only from Messel), M. nearctica (from the Eocene Green River Fm., USA), M. russelli (from the Paleocene of France), and Itardiornis hessae (from the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene fissure-fillings in Quercy, France). According to Gerald Meyer in Paleocene Fossil Birds, there are over 500 specimens of M. cristata known from the Messel pit, constituting roughly half of the bird fossils found there. Interestingly, no juvenile specimens are known from there, which suggests that they did not nest nearby. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Absolutely stunning!! If you believe everything you read, perhaps it's time for you to stop reading... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Oh, my! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 A super acquisition for a wonderful collection! The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 auspex- Nice fossil. Very Nice. I spend a lot of time in the Eocene... if I ever find a Diatryma fossil, why I'll be sure to let you know. Meanwhile... beautiful Messelornis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paleozoicfish Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Amazing! -PzF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'm happy for you, Chas, Congratulations http://www.mbfossilcrabs.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astron Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 (edited) I am glad for you Chas on this magnificent acquisition Many thanks for sharing your great fossil and your happiness with us Edited March 11, 2011 by astron Astrinos P. Damianakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritageFossils Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 That's an awesome piece! Congrats! -YvW Next fossil auction: June 6th, 2010 - Beverly Hills, CA http://historical.ha.com/NaturalHistory/ Check out our auctions and past auctions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 somehow i completely did not see this topic before now, i don't think. how i could have avoided saying something completely irrelevant and off-topic regarding such an important and special collection centerpiece i'll never know... <walking out of topic, flailing himself with a large trout, as tc slinks and salivates behind> p.s. - you'll be getting a bill from my tongueopractor for the damage caused by my trying to rapidly repleat "messelornis"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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