Brittle Star Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Paleoniscum freieslebeni I thought you would like to see a complete fish that was found in 2001 and was donated to a geologist friend of mine for his lectures. Never taking my brother with me again as it was him that uncovered it, lump hammer and bolster chisel, he is 6 foot and has the weight to split the large slab it came out of, after that he panicked and did not know what to do, sis to the rescue. No prepping needed except to cut the block down to size, magnificent blue enamel like scales right down to the tip of its tail. Nose to tail 9 inches with only a few scales missing. Will post some more fish photos from the area later. A jaw with teeth from the same quarry and other complete and nearly complete from one nearby, different year. Watch this space. Enjoy Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Wow, ... what an amazing specimen! The blue scales are quite remarkable. Thanks for showing us! 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...
Brittle Star Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 Thanks, I was gutted, my brother is annoying at the best of times, I have not forgiven him yet, it was me that ended up preserving the thing, he actually went out and bought a rock saw to cut the block to size, made a good job of it without it breaking up. Now residing safely in Hastings. My brother offered it to a museum in the NE of England and they did not want it, said they had loads. Go figure. At least it is not stuck in a dusty drawer somewhere. Ok now I have not logged off for the evening here is a tiny jaw from the same locality. Excuse my thumb, do not use that for scale anymore. I love the close up. Hope you do too. Not sure what it is from though, may look it out and see if the front goes any deeper or something is further back in matrix. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Oooh! More goodies! Lovely! 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...
Brittle Star Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 OK this is the last one for this evening, same species different quarry and a lot more moth eaten. Have 5 more from same day. ALL MINE. About the same size. Note to self get them out and do better photo with a ruler. Really really going to log off now. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Still, ... such a pretty fish! (Even if it is displayed upside down.) The matrix looks awfully cross bedded. Is that the case? 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...
Brittle Star Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 Really, upside down?? Really must get new glasses, death throws that is my excuse, the fish not me. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 6 minutes ago, Brittle Star said: Really, upside down?? Really must get new glasses, death throws that is my excuse, the fish not me. 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...
Miocene_Mason Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Those are some amazing fish! “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrophyseter Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 I've never seen a british fish with such nice details Loving it! If you're a fossil nut from Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, or Torrance, feel free to shoot me a PM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Nice! Thanks for showing them. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 That is really nice!!! To say the least!!! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittle Star Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 Thanks Tim for your pointers of my upside photo, fish die upside down and I guess the rock stood up better that way up, who am I kidding note to self to do better next time and get my loupe out on the things head next time, I have a headless one no probs there. HA Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittle Star Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 I think this is a scale, what do you think? It appears something decayed around it and it is not diamond shaped like the ones on the fish. I am not posting my other fish as they are really decayed with not much detail visible on the photo. Age Permian, sorry should have said the age on my first post on the subject. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 4 hours ago, Brittle Star said: I think this is a scale, what do you think? It appears something decayed around it and it is not diamond shaped like the ones on the fish. I am not posting my other fish as they are really decayed with not much detail visible on the photo. Age Permian, sorry should have said the age on my first post on the subject. Brittlestar, The fish orientation can be determined by the skull, the vertebral column (which is frequently about 2/3 of the way from the bottom of the fish,) and the upper caudal fin. The caudal has scales extending much further up on the upper lobe of the caudal. Your latest item looks like skull elements, to me. Possibly a jaw (pointy bit) and gular plate, or part of the maxilla. Branchiostegals are a possibility as well. I'd enjoy seeing even your poorly preserved fish. Many of my Jurassic/Triassic are partials, and poorly preserved. Anything from an area I have never been to is interesting, to me. Thanks for posting these - very cool. Regards, Tim 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...
jdp Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 On 10/8/2017 at 2:18 AM, Brittle Star said: I think this is a scale, what do you think? It appears something decayed around it and it is not diamond shaped like the ones on the fish. I am not posting my other fish as they are really decayed with not much detail visible on the photo. Age Permian, sorry should have said the age on my first post on the subject. Some of these fish have a row of enlarged scales along the ridge of their back. This is one of those. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Good call - I can see that now. Probably should have asked for a size. 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...
doushantuo Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crann Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I live near Durham... but I can't stay away from the coast, I will visit a quarry real soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittle Star Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 wow thank you for the ID, I never thought I would get past just calling it a scale. Will rename the photo straight away. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittle Star Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 On 06/10/2017 at 7:19 PM, Fossildude19 said: The matrix looks awfully cross bedded. Is that the case? I will try and get it out to have another look. I need to put scales on some new photos and get my tripod out for my camera to get a closer shot. I think it is marl slate formed in the bottom of the Zechstein Sea, but cannot remember what the bedding was like, not too bad to prep, unlike some shale which can be a pain. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittle Star Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 OK just about to turn in, way past my bed time, here are the requested more mashed, flea bitten fish from County Durham. One probably took a header into the back of a Permian bus. I think they are much of the same species but any suggestions or observations greatly appreciated. All found same place same day. Sorry exact location forgotten, some small quarry dumped material, actually picked over the day before by a school party would you believe. Apologies in advance of the ones that are upside down. See any replies tomorrow. England time. Never ask a starfish for directions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Wow! I think they're pretty darn cool. Thanks for posting them! Regards, 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...
Ludwigia Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I've seen a lot of good P. freieslebeni from the German Permian, but that first one here really takes the cake! What a beaut!! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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