5" Early Coelacanth Fossil - Bear Gulch

Caridosuctor is a genus of prehistoric coelacanth, a lobe-finned fish, which lived during the Carboniferous period (Serpukhovian stage, about 318 - 326 million years ago). Fossils of it have been found in the Bear Gulch beds of the Heath Formation in central Montana, These limestone layers constitute one of the lesser-known conservation Lager- stätten, but are of great significance because they contain one of the most diverse and best preserved fossil fish assemblages in the world.

Although the coelacanth, Caridusuctor populosum, is one of the most abundant fish fossils found in the Bear Gulch, specimens as complete, detailed and well presented on the matrix as this one are fairly rare. The characteristic three-lobed caudal fin, also called a “tufted “diphycercal tail is well defined on this particular specimen.

Specimens like this simply don't come up for sale very often. This specimen was acquired by a high-end collector back in the late 80's who is now narrowing the focus of his collections. Watch for more rare, one-of-a-kind fossil offerings from this collection in the next several days.