New web address. http://www.fossils.eu.com
Zenaspis pagei (Scotland)
I am not a trained Paleontologist and thus should anyone notice mistakes in identification of the fossils I would be most grateful if you could inform me. I have been an ‘Icthyolithophile’ for about 8 years. My interest was spawned with the acquisition of the classic J.A.Moy-Thomas monograph PALAEOZOIC FISHES – after which this site is titled..
All the images on the following pages are from my own collection, the vast majority coming from the Silurian and Devonian of Scotland. Almost all this material has come from old collections and in most cases the specimens retain their original labels (Some almost 150 years old). Discovering the history of these collectors has become a fascinating pass-time in itself. Given the crude preparation techniques in the past, many pieces have been re-prepared using modern techniques.
Most of these fossils come from localities that are now protected and old collections are the only source. The internet has revolutionized the ability to search for these collections. In the last couple of years it has helped track down several old collections of Devonian and Silurian material from Scotland, plus a major US collection of Devonian fish from Miguasha in Canada (noted on page 13-Dev Fishes and Plants of Miguasha, Schultze and Cloutier). I have traded some of the duplicate fossils in these collections, for material from other countries and am always willing to make material available to researchers where a fossil is something new or has unusual morphology.
Page 1 Vertebrate Origins through to the Ordovician
Page 2 Distribution of the Vertebrate taxa through time
Page 3 Heterostraci – Poraspis and Pteraspis
Page 4 Anaspids - Jamoytius, Birkenia, Endeiolepis and Lasanius
Page 5 Osteostraci –Ateleaspis, Cephalaspis, Hirella and Tremataspis
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6 Galeaspida - Polybranchiaspis
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7
Thelodonti – Loganellia and Lanarkia
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8 Placodermi – Arthrodira
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9 Placodermi - Antiarcha, Rhenanida, Ptyctodontida and Petalichthyida
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10 Acanthodii – Cheiracanthus, Acanthodes and Gyracanthus
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11 Chondrichthyes – Stethacanthus and others
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12 Actinopterygii - Cheirolepis and others
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13
Sarcopterygii – Dipnomorpha, Actinistia
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14
Sarcopterygii – Osteolepiformes
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15
Tetrapoda - Balanerpeton
Page 16 List of the known Scottish Silurian & Old Red Sandstone Fishes
Page 17 Chronological account of the discovery fossil fishes in Scotland from 1697
IMAGES OF PLATES FROM AGASSIZ -POISSONS FOSSILES
IMAGES OF PLATES FROM AGASSIZ -MONOGRAPHIE DES POISSONS FOSSILES DU VIEUX GRES ROUGES
IMAGES OF PLATES FROM DECADE X (HUXLEY/EGERTON)
LINKS FOSSILS WANTED / FOR TRADE
SILURIAN ARTHROPODS IN MY COLLECTION
Further reading. As well as a wealth of old books including the Moy-Thomas classic monograph, two recent books stand out as being both very informative and readable.
THE RISE OF FISHES by John A.Long.
For questions or comments please contact me on vendian@btinternet.com
Last updated 19/06/06