Description
Bobasatrania mahavavica
Early Triassic
Isalo Formation
Ambilobe, Madagascar
Enormous 191mm fish in paired concretion. Largest we have ever had of this species. Typically, they are only the size of the palm of your hand so this one is quite a monster.
Bobasatrania is an odd, extinct genus of bony fish that may be related to sturgeons and paddlefishes. It’s best known from Triassic sites in Canada (British Columbia), Europe, and Madagascar. We call it an odd fish because it had a deep-bodied, laterally-flattened body form (rather unusual in its day) but its skeleton was not optimally adapted for quick maneuvering with that general form – something that would be improved upon in later fishes. Still, Bobasatrania was clearly a successful fish in its time spreading around the world back when all the continents were connected.
