Solnhofen Caturus sp.
Place of discovery: Langenaltheim, Langenaltheimer Haardt; Solnhofener Revier/ Germany
Lithostratigraphy: Lower Tithonian, White Jurassic Group, Altmühltal Formation, Upper Solnhofen Subformation
Biostratigraphy: Hybonotum zone, rueppelianus subzone, rueppelianus horizon
Age: approx. 150.8 – 152 million years +/- 2 million years
Plate size: approx. 50 x 30 cm
Size of fossil: approx. 40 cm (largest size)
Classic “predatory fish” of good size.
Authentic fossil in original matrix, not reburied. With proof of provenance.
Offered on behalf of the customer. Please do not make a payment in the store. Sale in the name and for the account of the owner.
Caturus sp. – The swift hunter of the Jurassic Sea
This fossil represents one of the most dominant predatory fish of the Solnhofen Archipelago from the Upper Jurassic (approx. 150 million years ago). As the ancestor of today’s bald pike, Caturus is characterized by its streamlined body and predatory lifestyle.
Scientific classification and morphology
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- Evolutionary elegance: As a distant relative of today’s Bald Pike(Amia calva), Caturus shows an anatomy that was perfectly adapted to hunting in open water. It is the prime example of a bone-melting scaler (holostei) that dominated the lagoons of the Solnhofen archipelago.
- The “killer instinct” in the stone: In contrast to peaceful small fish such as Leptolepides, Caturus is often found in the most spectacular states of preservation: Occasionally even the last meals are documented in the stomach area or prey fish directly in the wide-open mouth.
- The aesthetics of contrast: The dark bone structures and the fine fin rays usually stand out magnificently against the cream-colored or light yellow Solnhofen limestone – a visual masterpiece of nature.
The fine details – what collectors look out for:
- The distinctive caudal fin (homocercia): Its trademark is the deeply forked, large caudal fin. In top specimens, the individual fin rays are intricately preserved right up to the tips and still convey the impression of power and propulsion today.
- The terrifying set of teeth: look at the skull! A real collector’s item reveals the pointed, needle-like fangs in the powerful jaws. The preservation of the skull in its original depth is a decisive quality feature.
- The filigree scales: While other fish have coarse scales, it has finer scales that often leave a silky sheen on the rock surface. Ideally, the scales are continuous and without gaps.
A highlight for every Solnhofen collection
Caturus is the classic predatory fish from Solnhofen par excellence. It represents the top of the food chain in an ecosystem that was shared 150 million years ago by pterosaurs and prehistoric birds such as Archaeopteryx. A fossil of this quality is not just an investment, but a window into a time when Bavaria was still a subtropical island paradise.
