Seahorse Relative Pipefish Fossils from California

Description: This is a double of well-preserved specimens of an interesting family of fish. This is by far the finest large multiple plate I have acquired. Note the fine detail of the head and upper body. In particular the finely detailed ventral frill. The plate was cracked and professionally repaired.

Syngnathidae is a family of fish, which include the seahorses, the pipefishes, plus the weedy and leafy sea dragons. Their elongated snouts, and fused jaws characterize them. Other characteristics include the absence of pelvic fins, and by thick plates of bony armor covering the body. This gives them a rigid body, so that they have to swim by rapidly fanning their fins.