RARELY SEEN Thelodont Fossil Fish From The Silurian Of Scotland

Description: The Thelodontia are a group of fishes most commonly known from their distinctive tooth-like scales. Indeed the term Thelodont , derived from Greek, means nipple tooth. The teeth have a characteristic crown made of dentine. The scales even on a single specimen are quite variable. Thelodonts are rarely found as complete specimens; those that are show them to be flattened fish, many of which were bottom dwellers. Recent finds of intact specimens from Canada show that they radiated into some deep-bodied forms that swam freely in the water column. These deep-bodied forms may have been more closely allied with jawed fishes than their other relatives. All Thelodonts were extinct by the Upper Devonian.

This high-quality specimen that has recently been obtained from a 50 year old collection shows the distinctive scales. This fine part/counterpart example is most distinctive, a rare pair of this rarely-seen taxon. I’ve included a drawing of the similar Lanarkia.