Styletoctopus annae
Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Order Octopoda, Octopodidae
Geological Time: Middle Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~95 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 40 mm across tentacles Body: 16 mm by 7 mm on a 60 mm by 55 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Lebanese Lagerstatte, Hajula, Lebanon
Code: RS134
Price: $2195.00 - sold
 Description:
Here is a most unusual fossil from the Cretaceous of Lebanon; a
very detailed octopus called Styletoctopus annae. The genus derives
its name from the stylets, highly reduced internal shells that
are analogous to the gladius, or pen of squids. Given the fact
that there are no hard parts to preserve to speak  of,
the detail here is amazing. There are many details present in this
fine example
with the arms mantle and head preserved in fluorapatite, the orange
stain showing some of the internal organs, and the ink sac preserved
in 3-D. I have include an enhanced contrast photo to show the details
and an interpretive sketch. The specimen comes in a Riker box which
includes a small copy of the sketch to make interpreting the specimen
easier. Without a doubt this is the finest example I have seen,
and will certainly not be around for long before being snapped
up by
some
savvy collector. |
