Fossil - Bonefish (Rhacolepis buccalis)

Fossil - Bonefish (Rhacolepis buccalis)

A spectacular bony fish fossil. Rhacolepis buccalis is an extinct species of fish belonging to the fan-finned (Actinopterygii) bony fish (Osteichthyes) that lived during the Cretaceous Period, approximately 150-109 million years ago. The fish fossil is amazingly well preserved. Gills, fins, scales on the ventral and lateral sides, even the eye sockets are clearly visible in this magnificent fossil. Fossils of the Rhacolepis species have played a particularly significant role in recent evolutionary research. Using modern 3D technology, a team of paleontologists managed to find a complete heart from a fish of the Rhacolepis species that had lived over 113 million years ago and was buried in fossilized soil in 2016. This was the first time that a completely fossilized heart had been located in a prehistoric animal.

Cretaceous period, about 150-109 million years ago, Santana, Brazil, South America. The sediment is about 140mm x 39mm in size (of which the fish itself is 140mm x 29mm). Weight about 156g.

Note! Fossils are natural products that are millions of years old, so each one is unique. Therefore, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from fair to good and they have the wear, cracks and small chips typical of fossils.