3" Devonian Lobed-Fin Fish (Osteolepis) Fossil - Scotland

This is a 3" long specimen of the Devonian "Lobed-Fin" fish, Osteolepis panderi. It was collected from the Middle Devonian-aged Old Red Sandstone in Caithness, Scotland. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Osteolepis ('bone scale') is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Devonian period. It lived in the ancient Lake Orcadie of northeastern Scotland. Osteolepis averaged about 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) long, and was 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 connected to sensory cells deeper in the skin and ended in pores on the surface: they were probably for sensing vibrations in the water.

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


Osteolepis was a rhipidistian with a number of features in common with tetrapods (land-dwelling vertebrates and their descendants). They were likely close to the base of the tetrapod family tree.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Osteolepis panderi
LOCATION
Hill of Forss, South of Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
FORMATION
Old Red Sandstone
SIZE
Fish: 3" long (straightline), Rock: 4.6 x 2.7"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#231961
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