Rare Placoderm (Cowralepis) Fossil - 6"

Cowralepis mclachlani, is a new genus and species of phyllolepid placoderm and was described from numerous articulated specimens discovered in a road cut near Cowra, New South Wales, Australia from 2000-2002. Phyllolepida (meaning "leaf scales") is an extinct taxon of flattened placoderms found throughout the world, with fossils being found throughout Devonian strata. Like other flattened placoderms, the phyllolepids were probably bottom-dwelling predators that ambushed slow moving prey. The phyllolepids are considered to have been blind, as the orbits for the eyes are extremely small, so much so as to suggest that the eyes were vestigial, and that they were placed on the sides of the head, as opposed to visual bottom-dwelling predators, like, say stargazers or flatfish, which have the eyes placed high on top of the headUnlike other flattened placoderms, the phyllolepids were inhabitants of freshwater environments.

A systematic review suggests that the Phyllolepida are a subgroup of the Arthrodires.
Despite having a relatively clear idea of the phyllolepids' lifestyle and anatomy, most fossils that have been found consist of fragments of thoracic armor. This specimen, one of only a few dozen that were permitted to leave Australia, is near perfection and features fine details and good contrast (the majority of specimens were rather dull and monochromatic). The site is now closed to collecting and no additional specimens will be exported. A systematic review demonstrates that the Phyllolepida are a subgroup of the Arthrodira.

Specimens like this simply don't come up for sale. This specimen comes from a high end collector who only collected the finest specimens available. He is now selling off portions of his collection to narrow the focus. There may never be another chance to acquire a rare specimen of this species.