{"id":8997,"date":"2026-04-02T08:50:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T06:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/?post_type=product&#038;p=8997"},"modified":"2026-04-05T07:44:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:44:03","slug":"ichthyosaurus-h0020","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/shop\/holzmaden\/ichthyosaurus-h0020\/","title":{"rendered":"Holzmaden Ichthyosaur"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Ichthyosaur Stenopterygius quadriscissus<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Place of discovery: Holzmadener Revier, Dotternhausen near Balingen, Germany<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #808080;\">Lithostratigraphy: Lower Toarcian, Black Jurassic Group, Posidonia Shale Formation, Lower Shale Subformation (Fleins)<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #808080;\">Biostratigraphy: Falciferum zone, exaratum subzone, elegantulum horizon<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #808080;\">Age: approx. 182.0 &#8211; 183.0 million years +\/- 0.5 million years<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Plate size: 75 x 30 x 2 cm<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #808080;\">Size of fossil: 57 cm (largest size), skull: 22 cm<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Complete reptile, juvenile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>An authentic PREMIUM fossil with proof of provenance, directly from the finder, prepared by one of the best taxidermists, very decorative, stable in value.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Price on request. Offered on behalf of the customer. Sale in the name and for the account of the owner. Contact: <a href=\"mailto:info@fossiland.com\">info@fossiland.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Authentic Holzmaden fossil &#8211; very rare baby reptile<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Immerse yourself in the world of 182 million years ago. This extraordinary piece of geological evidence comes from the famous layers of the &#8220;Flein&#8221; (Lias epsilon) in Dotternhausen, near Holzmaden in southern Germany: a fully preserved juvenile of the reptile <em>Stenopterygius quadriscissus<\/em>. <\/span><span style=\"color: #808080;\">While adult specimens occasionally find their way into the trade, juvenile animals are an extreme rarity due to their fragile bone structure. This specimen impresses with the proportions typical of juveniles &#8211; especially the disproportionately large skull, which immediately catches the eye.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Scientific classification &amp; rarity: The &#8220;neonate&#8221; stage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">In the paleontological literature (Miedema &amp; Maxwell (2022), ichthyosaurs of the genus <em>Stenopterygius<\/em> are divided into developmental stages based on their skull and body dimensions. With a skull length of 22 cm and a total extension of 57 cm, this specimen falls into the scientifically extremely rare stage &#8220;Postnatal 1&#8221; (neonate). <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Ontogenetic classification: Free-swimming juveniles with a lower jaw length of less than 300 mm are defined as <strong>neonates<\/strong>. These animals have just started their life in the open Jurassic Sea. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Proportion ratio:<\/strong> The ratio of skull length to body length is typical for this extremely early life stage. In adult animals, the head makes up around 15-18 % of the length &#8211; in this juvenile specimen it is over 35 %. This &#8220;baby schema&#8221; effect with the disproportionately large eye disc (scleral ring) is a diagnostic feature for neonate individuals.  <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Rarity value:<\/strong> While adult <em>Stenopterygius specimens<\/em>(up to 4 meters in length) dominate the collections, articulated skeletons under 60 cm in length are an absolute exception. The slender, not yet fully ossified skeletons of young ichthyosaurs usually fell victim to decomposition or scavengers immediately after death. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">This specimen thus closes the gap between the known embryonic finds (in the mother) and the much more common subadult animals. It is a reference specimen for the <strong>earliest ontogenetic phase<\/strong> of a marine reptile. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Highlights of conservation and anatomy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Fantastic skull:<\/strong> Measuring 22 cm in length, the head features intricate details, including an impressively preserved eye disc (scleral ring) and fine dentition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Articulation:<\/strong> The skeleton is almost completely in anatomical union. Only the tail end and the tips of the front paddles show the beginnings of a natural dislocation &#8211; an authentic testimony to the embedding processes on the seabed. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Color &amp; substance:<\/strong> The deep brown color of the bone substance is a direct indication of the excellent mineralization and the high quality of the fossil.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Maximum transparency and scientific integrity<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">In a market that is often dominated by composites (pieces made up of several animals), this object sets standards in terms of honesty:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Not a composite:<\/strong> It is a single individual.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Documented history:<\/strong> The find was personally recovered by the finder in 2012 and the entire preparation history &#8211; from the state of the find in four plates to the finished exhibit &#8211; is scientifically documented.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Masterful preparation:<\/strong> The piece was prepared by one of the world&#8217;s leading taxidermists. The tip of the snout was professionally restored using original bone substance &#8211; a measure that is openly and honestly communicated here. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Legal certainty:<\/strong> The fossil was recovered legally and is not in conflict with the Excavation Protection Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Holzmaden Conservation Site: A window into prehistoric times<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">The detailed preservation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/holzmaden-fossilien.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Holzmaden fossils<\/a> is due to the unique depositional environment in the Jurassic Sea: the extremely low-oxygen (anoxic) environment on the seabed. These conditions prevented scavengers and bacteria from decomposing the carcasses and enabled the formation of one of the most important fossil deposits in the world. A reptile from Holzmaden is therefore a fascinating scientific document that offers deep insights into the biology of a long-gone apex predator.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><strong>Acquire a piece of the earth&#8217;s history<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">This fossil is more than just a collector&#8217;s item; it is a timeless work of art from nature and a stable investment for those who value complete provenance and uncompromising authenticity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Viewing &amp; contact:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #808080;\">See the quality of this unique piece for yourself. Viewing is possible at any time by appointment in T\u00fcbingen. We will also be presenting the piece at the following trade fairs:  <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fossilien-boerse.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Fossils Exchange: 11.\/12.04.2026<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sainte-marie-mineral.com\/de\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Mineral &amp; Gem, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines: 22-28.06.2026<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><em>Worldwide, secure shipping is possible.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Reference:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/%E2%80%A2%20https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-022-05540-0\"><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Miedema &amp; Maxwell (2022): Ontogenetic variation in the skull of Stenopterygius quadriscissus with an emphasis on prenatal development<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ichthyosaur reptile from the Posidonia Shale for sale. The fossils icon from Holzmaden. Very rare juvenile. Exclusive collector&#8217;s item &#8211; museum quality!   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[146,148,150],"product_tag":[188,165,191,189,167,164,166,192,190],"class_list":{"0":"post-8997","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-holzmaden","7":"product_cat-fossils","8":"product_cat-reptils","9":"product_tag-fish-dinosaur","10":"product_tag-germany","11":"product_tag-ichthyosaur","12":"product_tag-ichthyosaurus","13":"product_tag-law","14":"product_tag-lias","15":"product_tag-posidonia-slate","16":"product_tag-premium","17":"product_tag-price-inquiry","18":"desktop-align-left","19":"tablet-align-left","20":"mobile-align-left","22":"first","23":"instock","24":"sold-individually","25":"shipping-taxable","26":"product-type-simple"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/8997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fossiland.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}