Pair Of Devonian Lobed-Fin Fish (Osteolepis) - Scotland

This is a pair of nicely preserved Early Devonian, "Lobed-Fin" fish, Osteolepis macrolepidotus. It was collected from the Sandwick Fish Beds in the Old Red Sandstone in the Orkney Isles of Scotland. The larger specimen is 5.9" long and the smaller just over 3" long.

Osteolepis ('bone scale') is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Devonian period. It lived in the Lake Orcadie of northern Scotland. Osteolepis averaged about 20 cm (7.9 in) long, and covered with large, square scales. The scales and plates on its head were covered in a thin layer of spongy, bony material called cosmine. This layer contained canals which were connected to sensory cells deeper in the skin. These canals ended in pores on the surface, and were probably for sensing vibrations in the water.

Artists reconstruction of Osteolepis. Creative Commons, by Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com)
Artists reconstruction of Osteolepis. Creative Commons, by Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com)


Osteolepis was a rhipidistian, having a number of features in common with the tetrapods (land-dwelling vertebrates and their descendants), and was probably close to the base of the tetrapod family tree.
SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Osteolepis macrolepidotus
LOCATION
Cruaday Hill Quarry, Orkney Isles, Scotland
FORMATION
Old Red Sandstone
SIZE
Larger 5.9" long on 8x6.7" limestone
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#93943
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our
specimens. Read more about our
Authenticity Guarantee.