Crossopterygians

Crossopterygians are an important group of fishes in the evolution of vertebrates because these fishes would evolve into tetrapods (amphibians), which would eventually become reptiles, birds & mammals. These fishes are therefore our distant ancestors. This can be seen in particular by looking at their pectoral and pelvic fins, which evolve into respectively our arms and legs.

Glyptolepis paucidens Agassiz, 1844


Gyroptychius milleri Jarvik, 1948


Gyroptychius agassizi, Traill, 1841


Osteolepis panderi Pander, 1860


Osteolepis macrolepidotus Agassiz, 1835


Thursius macrolepidotus Sedgwick & Murchison, 1829

The Thursius macrolepidotus shown below became loosened from the rock completely. It is from a site with elevated radiation levels so I brought a geiger counter just to be on the safe side. The reading on the geiger counter was not good, as shown below. This is only one of the lower readings because it was fluctuating constantly and I wanted to take a photo quickly and get out of there ASAP. Sadly, this specimen had to be left behind because the rad levels were too high for safekeeping.


Thursius pholidotus Traquair, 1888