Description

Zamponiopteron falciformis JANVIER & SUAREZ-RIGLOS, 1986
Devonian
Belen Formation
Patacamaya (Department of La Paz) Bolivian Altiplano
Bolivia

28mm cartilage from a Devonian shark in concretion. Very rare.

See: JANVIER, P. & SUAREZ-RIGLOS, M. (1986) The Silurian and Devonian vertebrates of Bolivia. Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Etudes Andines, 15 (3-4): 73-114.

Today, when a shark or ray dies, the cartilage in its skeleton begins to disintegrate almost immediately. That’s why fossil skeletons of sharks and rays are so rare, and because of that, some collectors are happy to get a sample of preserved cartilage from any of the known sites for it (Mazon Creek, Lee Creek Mine, etc.).

This specimen represents one of the oldest known occurrences. You get both halves of the concretion.