Stenopterygius quadriseissus – Jurassic – Germany

Stenopterygius quadriseissus

Early Jurassic

Holzmaden, Germany

 

Stenpterygius quadriseissus

Specimen 1

1469: Ichthyosaur From Holzmaden, Germany

Item number: 320313489945

Start price: US $2,500.00

Estimate: $5,000.00 – US $6,500.00

Lot number: 1469 (View all lots)

Auction Date: Nov-15-08 10:00:00 PST 

Seller: i-lgoldbergcoinsandcollectibles “eBay Live Auction”

Ichthyosaur From Holzmaden, Germany. The 180 million year old Ichthyosaurs are the most famous and popular of the fossils found in the slate pits of Holzmaden, Germany. Of all the aquatic reptiles of their time, the dolphin-like Ichthyosaurs were the best adapted to their environment and were known to have live births. This large 31 inch long Stenpterygius quadriseissus Ichthyosaur is well articulated with the excellently defined 3-dimensional bones that Holzmaden is known for, missing only the snout on the head and two of the legs. There are some teeth visible as well as a sclerotic ring, which was a bony plate surrounding the eye giving it protection. The delicate rib bones, body and tail vertebrae, as well as two of the foot paddles are in excellent condition and the Ichthyosaur is nicely centered on the 33 x 19 inch natural stone matrix. Complete Ichthyosaurs from Holzmaden sell for more than $25,000. This remarkably well preserved specimen should be a bargain due to its missing snout. Our item number 139048

 

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Additional links:

• Ichthyosauria

 

 

Mixosaurus panzianensis – Triassic – China

Mixosaurus panzianensis

Upper Triassic, Norian

Guaning Formation of Panxian County, China

 

Mixosaurus panzianensis

 

Specimen 1

 

1468: Huge 210 Million Year Old Aquatic Reptile

Item number: 320313489930

Start price: US $1,750.00

Estimate: US $3,500.00 – US $4,500.00

Lot number: 1468 (View all lots)

Auction Date: Nov-15-08 10:00:00 PST 

Seller: i-lgoldbergcoinsandcollectibles “eBay Live Auction”

Huge 210 Million Year Old Aquatic Reptile. Ichthyosaurs were a fast swimming marine reptile that have been extinct for more than 100 million years and somewhat resembled dolphins in shape. Their bodies were built for speed like a dolphin but their skeleton was very different. The earliest ichthyosaurs were much more reptile-like with longer thinner bodies and smaller fins and paddles. Mixosaurus panzianensis, found in the 210 million year old Guaning Formation of Panxian County, China, is one of the earliest and most primitive of ichthyosaurs. It had a long thin body with heavy vertebrae and a straight reptile-like tail. This 21.5 inch long specimen is more complete than most specimens even though the ribs and some of the leg bones are disarticulated, but its vertebrae, tail and parts of all four paddle bones are present. The large skull is 5 inches long with several sharp teeth still present and Mixosaurus had very large eyes which may indicate that it swam at great depths in s earch of prey. The 1 inch long paddles are just reptile feet with a few extra phalanges extending their length to create paddles for swimming and steering. This rare and important early ichthyosaur fossil is nicely centered on a 23 x 11.5 inch black stone matrix, backed for stability as the matrix is somewhat fragile and the recovered specimens always come out in a number of pieces. There is 10-15% restoration on some of the teeth, but overall the specimen is one of the finer fossils available of this rare primitive ichthyosaur. Our item number 140168 (photo zoomer)