Bringing Fossils to Life Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 For the longest time I have puzzled over this strange bone. At first of course I thought it was a "Hynerpton scute," because I have a memory of finding it somewhat near where the holotype was found and no papers picture them, so I couldn't compare. Recently I've doubted its identity as I've researched Ichthyostega scales and scutes, but have no idea of what it actually is. Any ideas? On the imprint nearest to the camera a texture can be seen, shiny smooth with little circular rounded bumps that are the negatives of pores. Size a little less than 1.5 cm from end to end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Looks like a fish skull element to me - maybe something like Eusthenodon sp. Cropped and darkened: @Paul1719 @jdp Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "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...
Bringing Fossils to Life Posted February 17, 2023 Author Share Posted February 17, 2023 I looked at the paper describing the species of Eusthenodon from near red hill, and the texture looks very similar; however, I couldn't find any round enough looking bones that would be as thin as this. I couldn't find anything on Hyneria either. Do you have any idea where on the skull this bone may have been located, and compared to other fish? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355825921_A_new_species_of_Eusthenodon_Sarcopterygii_Tristichopteridae_from_the_Upper_Devonian_Famennian_of_Pennsylvania_USA_and_a_review_of_Eusthenodon_taxonomy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Sorry, I don't. That's why I tagged the other members. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "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 February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Eusthenodon seems right to me but there are other possibilities as well. I don't think this is Hyneria or Densignathus though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringing Fossils to Life Posted February 17, 2023 Author Share Posted February 17, 2023 Where on the skull is most likely, if it is Eusthenodon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdp Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 I'm thinking extrascapular but could be mistaken. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringing Fossils to Life Posted February 18, 2023 Author Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) Thank you! Is this based on other related fish or the pictures in the paper? Is this what you mean? Figure annotated from Problems in Fish-to-Tetrapod Transition: Genetic Expeditions Into Old Specimens https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326420946_Problems_in_Fish-to-Tetrapod_Transition_Genetic_Expeditions_Into_Old_Specimens Edited February 18, 2023 by Bringing Fossils to Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1719 Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 Hi, sorry for being so late on this. My guess is a megalichthys scale or possibly a plate although I would expect it to be flatter. I have been fooled by eroded plates and bone many times. At red hill they are one of the most common fossils and if the cosmine delaminates during transport it does reveal a network of pores and canals. What you describe of the impression sounds exactly like a Turrisaspis plate but I can't see it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringing Fossils to Life Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 The impression is smooth and has small round tubercles, indicating holes in the bone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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