Caridosuctor Paleozoic Coelacanth from Bear Gulch

Description: The Bear Gulch Limestone is a deposit of some 70 square km in extent and 30 m in depth that has been a source of one of the most diverse assemblages of fossil fish with some 110 species having been described over the past 30 years. Most were new to science, and provided a unique view of the marine environment of Mississippian times. Fine preservation of both fish and invertebrates is a hallmark of these deposits, presumably due to an anoxic depositional environment. This specimen is a coelacanth known as Caridoscuctor (“shrimp eater”), and is well-represented in the Bear Gulch deposits. Specimens found range from 30 mm to 250 mm. They exhibit sexual dimorphism, with larger, more robust females and smaller, more gracile males, a condition found in the modern coelacanth Latimeria. The species died out in the Lower Carboniferous. This is what is termed by the field collector a study grade specimen. Due to the fact that the some of the details seen on higher end examples are lacking, this is a most affordable example of the species which often sells for several multiples of this price (see my other offerings). Even at that most of the diagnostic features of the taxon are evident. What is most unusual about this one is the fact that it has been preserved in ventral mode, a most uncommon death pose for these Coelacanths.