Solnhofen Caturus sp.
45×29 cm (matrix)
Solnhofener Revier, Plattenkalke, Bavaria, Germany (exact location will be communicated to buyer)
Historic collector’s item with a special excavation history. Found approx. 50 years ago, contemporary preparation with restorations, in original matrix, not reburied.
Offered on behalf of the customer.
no longer available
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 brilliance: A predator of the Upper Jurassic
-
- 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): The trademark of the Caturus is its 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, Caturus has finer scales that often leave a silky sheen on the rock surface. If the scales are complete and uninterrupted, it is considered a museum specimen.
A highlight for every Solnhofen collection
Caturus is the ideal centerpiece for collectors who want to tell the ecological story of the Jurassic Sea. 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.
