Category: Vertebrate
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Nothosaurus sp., vertebral neural arch, 17/LMK
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Nothosaurus sp. Neural arch. Gogolin Beds. Upper Silesia. Poland – The specimen is a beautifully preserved neural arch (in dorsal view). Considering its shape and size, it can be fairly safely assigned to the genus Nothosaurus.
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Parhybodus plicatilis, anterior tooth, 8/UMK
A well-preserved specimen of the anterior slender tooth of the hybodont shark Parhybodus plicatilis.
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Acrodus sp, tooth, 7/UMK
A beautifully preserved tooth crown from Acrodus sp.. The root is missing, suggesting it was much less durable than the crown itself. In fact, these occasionally broken (though still recognizable) crowns are often the only identifiable elements in the “fishy mess” of vertebrate remains I encounter.
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Pistosaurus longaevus, vertebra, 6/UMK
Pistosaurus longaevus Middle Triassic, Upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian), Upper Silesia, Poland A beautiful specimen of a nearly complete vertebra of Pistosaurus longaevus. Interestingly, and extremely rarely, despite signs of mechanical erosion, the neural arch is preserved. The first two photos clearly show the neural canal filled with gray matrix. The well-preserved articular surfaces (facets) are slightly…
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Ichthyosauria indet. (cf. Mixosaurus sp.), vertebra centrum, 16/LMK
Ichthyosauria indet. (cf. Mixosaurus sp.) Middle Triassic, Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland Ichthyosaur remains are extremely rare in the Muschelkalk deposits of Upper Silesia. The photos show a single vertebral centrum – though slightly damaged, it clearly displays the diagnostic features that allow for its assignment to this group of extinct marine reptiles (most…
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Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus, rib, 15/LMK
Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus Middle Triassic, Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland A rare find of a complete rib of this size from Sauropterygia indet. (probably Nothosaurus). The bone structure is clearly pachystotic – the rib is massive and the tissue dense. This structure is a primitive adaptation to aquatic life – the heavy bones acted as ballast,…
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Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus, vertebra centrum, 14/LMK
Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus Middle Triassic, Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland An example of a Sauropterygian vertebra centrum (likely Nothosaurus sp.). This is a well-preserved, large specimen (for this region). The first photo shows the vertebra in lateral view. A nutrient foramen (vascular opening) through which blood vessels entered the bone is visible upon closer…
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Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus, tooth, 5/UMK
Sauropterygia cf. Nothosaurus Middle Triassic, Upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian), Upper Silesia, Poland The largest Sauropterygian tooth in my collection. Unfortunately, the specimen’s preservation leaves something to be desired, especially since the apex of the tooth is missing. In any case, a tooth of this size must have belonged to a large individual. Obtaining it required considerable…
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Acrodus lateralis, tooth, 4/UMK
Acrodus lateralis Middle Triassic, Upper Muschelkalk (Ladinian), Upper Silesia, Poland A beautifully preserved tooth crown from the hybodont shark Acrodus lateralis. The teeth of this species are smaller than those of Acrodus gaillardoti, with more refined ornamentation. The delicate, yet distinct, branching ridges converge to a keel that runs the entire length of the tooth.…
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Palaeobates angustissimus, tooth, 13/LMK
Palaeobates angustissimus Middle Triassic, Lower Gogolin Beds, Upper Silesia, Poland A tooth from another common shark from the Middle Triassic – Palaeobates angustissimus. These teeth measure usually no more than a few millimeters. This specimen is one of the largest in my collection. Palaeobates is another durophagous shark with dentition adapted for crushing hard prey.…
