Cephalaspis was a jaw less fish that lived in the Early Devonian swamps of Europe. Another specimen that I received:
Since it had no jaw, the mouth was on the bottom of the skull. The head is angular shaped and scientists have found sensory pits along the skull edges. With this kind of arrangement I would expect this fish to have been a bottom feeder and the skull shape perhaps allowed it to dig in the soft sediments for prey. Maybe it also dug into the sediments and laid in wait since the eyes are on top of the skull.
Here is a closeup of the side of the skull where you can see some of the bone structure.
Cephalaspis was featured in the BBC/Discovery series "Walking with Monsters"
More information about this ancient fish can be found at Wikipedia
Another picture of a complete fossil fish can be found at the Natuual History Museum in London
Check out all the pictures you can find for at Google Images
Any idea where would be a good place to buy a Cephalaspis fossil? We have never purchased a fossil (outside of a museum gift shop), but my son saw Cephalaspis on "Walking with Monsters" and is obsessed with getting one. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, you can buy the fossils but they are very expensive. I received mine in trade for other fossils that I had. Sometimes I see them on E-bay but otherwise I would suggest going to fossil shows and asking the dealers if they have any or know of someone who does.
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