Pycnosteroides Cretaceous “Grazing” Fish Fossil

Pycnosteroides laevispinosus

Infraphylum Gnathostomata, Superclass Osteichthyese, Order Beryciformes, Family Pycnosteroididae

Geological Time: Middle Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~95 million years ago)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch) Fish fossil is 50 mm high, 48 mm in length on a 125 mm by 87 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Lebanese Lagerstatt, Hajoula, Lebanon

Code: L585

Price: $465.00


Description: A rarely seen member of the Order Beryciformes, Family Pycnosteroididae, it is thought to have been a grazer on plants, much as the modern-day Tangs do. The genus died out during the Cretaceous, leaving no descendants. This one has exceptionally-preserved finnage, with even some musculature preserved. It is hard to believe that such a specimen is nearly 100 million years old! The repairs do little to detract from this fine example.

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