Moy-Thomas, J.A.
On the carboniferous fish eucenturus paradoxus, traquair - 183-184p.
Extract
A Remarkable little fossil fish, Eucenturus paradoxus, was described by Traquair (1905) from a single specimen from the Calciferous Sandstone Series of Ardross, Fifeshire. Traquair's description is as follows: “This extraordinary little organism measures 2⅜ inches in length, of which ½ inch may be allotted to the head, and ¾ inch to the body, and 1⅛ inch to the tail. The head is a mass of calcareous matter, in which something suggestive of a broad curved mandible can be seen, but admits of no further description. The body, ⅜ inch broad in front, is composed of a greyish film, which, when examined by a strong lens, is seen to consist entirely of minute, slender, slightly-curved and sharp-pointed spinelets. The tail is tapering in form, consisting of amorphouslookingcalcareous matter, but on each side (assuming that the creature is crushed vertically) is a conspicuous row of double spinelets arranged exactly opposite each other. From a common base arise two spinelets, which are placed close together, and nearly parallel to each other; one of them, the anterior, being only half the length of the posterior one, which just behind the body may attain a length of 1/16 inch, though towards the end of the tail they become smaller; both spinelets are slender, slightly curved, round in transverse section, smooth externally, sharply pointed, and traversed internally by a central tubular pulp cavity. No trace either of internal skeleton, or of limbs, or of fins of any sort can be seen.”
Carboniferous fish fossil
Eucenturus paradoxus
On the carboniferous fish eucenturus paradoxus, traquair - 183-184p.
Extract
A Remarkable little fossil fish, Eucenturus paradoxus, was described by Traquair (1905) from a single specimen from the Calciferous Sandstone Series of Ardross, Fifeshire. Traquair's description is as follows: “This extraordinary little organism measures 2⅜ inches in length, of which ½ inch may be allotted to the head, and ¾ inch to the body, and 1⅛ inch to the tail. The head is a mass of calcareous matter, in which something suggestive of a broad curved mandible can be seen, but admits of no further description. The body, ⅜ inch broad in front, is composed of a greyish film, which, when examined by a strong lens, is seen to consist entirely of minute, slender, slightly-curved and sharp-pointed spinelets. The tail is tapering in form, consisting of amorphouslookingcalcareous matter, but on each side (assuming that the creature is crushed vertically) is a conspicuous row of double spinelets arranged exactly opposite each other. From a common base arise two spinelets, which are placed close together, and nearly parallel to each other; one of them, the anterior, being only half the length of the posterior one, which just behind the body may attain a length of 1/16 inch, though towards the end of the tail they become smaller; both spinelets are slender, slightly curved, round in transverse section, smooth externally, sharply pointed, and traversed internally by a central tubular pulp cavity. No trace either of internal skeleton, or of limbs, or of fins of any sort can be seen.”
Carboniferous fish fossil
Eucenturus paradoxus