Euphaneropids

Euphanerops cf. longaevus Woodward, 1900

This fish species occurs at Achanarras Quarry in insurmountable numbers. Certain bedding planes are littered with specimens. Despite this, finding a fine specimen showing the fins is exceedingly difficult. Most specimens are less than 2cm, and all that is usually visible is a vague body imprint and several dark spots representing its stomach and sensory organs such as the eyes, otic capsules, and probably its olfactory organ. The preservation of these fishes at Achanarras Quarry varies greatly. As such, a number of specimens were mistakenly described as distinct species, namely Cornovichthys blaauweni and Achanarella trewini. We now know that all perceived differences are owed to the varied state of preservation of these fishes. The body, which is composed entirely of soft tissues, can become very much distorted upon deposition. Furthermore, the relatively poor preservation at Achanarras Quarry does not allow this fish to be distinguished from the Upper Devonian Euphanerops longaevus from Canada, which is why it is referred to as Euphanerops cf. longaevus for the time being.