Fossil Reproductions
Invertebrates
Updated May 22, 2010


An  Extraordinary Species


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Illustration from
The Fossil Book
 


The left genalspine
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Copyright Two Guys Fossils
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A Extraordinary Species
Terataspis  grandis
Age: Middle Devonian
Location: Erie County, New York
Formation: Williamsville Quarry, Onadaga Limestone
Size: 28"
Cost: $ 330
Item # tri/grandis-bsr/rg330
Sold only through Bay State Replicas & Two Guys Fossils


FYI:
Illustration to the left was published in 1958 in the Fossil Book by Carroll & Mildred Fenton.

History of this Trilobite Specimen:
This species of trilobite as you can see has been known by Paleontologists and collectors alike for many years. There has never been a complete specimen ever found. However many segments of this trilobite have been found at the quarry and based on those fossils a reconstruction as you see here has been done by Mr. George Rennie of Ct. under the guidance and research by Dr. Copeland McClintock of Yale University Division of Invertebrate Paleontology. At This time this model is on display at the Peabody Museum at Yale. To date this trilobite is considered to be the Largest known to have lived on the North American Continent....

Terataspis grandis (Hall. 1861) ----Holotype NYSM 4543

Type species. Terataspis grandis is found in both the lower Onondaga
Limestone of western New York, particularly the former Fogelsanger Quarry in Williamsville, Erie County, and the upper Schoharie Formation of eastern New York. The large size and spiny nature of this trilobite make it one of the more spectacular ones.  Only one specimen is known from
New York  it is complete enough for a reasonable reconstruction. This specimen is upside down, and half, longitudinally, is missing. It is in the Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buffalo, New York.  The drawing  shows where the genal spine appears on the exoskeleton. "Only one reasonably complete specimen is known from New York." Certainly a good number of pieces are known.


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An Artist idea of the type of marine scene that this trilobite lived in.
 


 

Size of Plate
32 1/2 " by 11 1/2 "


Cost : $ 495.00


We just acquired this Magnificent Replica that is a must for any serious Trilobite Collector.


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What was it ?
A Monster Euryterid
Species Name : Mixopterus
Age: Early Devonian
Location: Norway

Item # tri/mix-bsr/rg495

The Story
417 to 354 Million years ago this massive trilobite predator lived in the brackish waters of the ancient seas of what we now call Norway. To date we know there have been at least 10,000 species of trilobites identified but as we know none of them were predators . Many a trilobite species fell prey to this Giant.

Mixopterus, was a strange somewhat scorpion (like) animal. Very few specimens of this animal have been obtained, but this species is well known from the rocks of  Norway. This animal may have been capable of crawling out of the water and onto the Silurian landscape as evident by the 2 sets of legs near the head.

The Eurypterids were among the largest and most fearsome marine predators of the Paleozoic age. They could range in size from 10 centimeters ( 5 inches) up to 6 feet long making them the largest Arthropods to have lived on our planet. This species of arthropod made it's appearance during the Ordovician era some 425 million years ago and became extinct during the Permian period millions of years before the rise of the Dinosaur.

It is thought that some species of Eurypterids may have spent short intervals of time on land.
The fossils of these animals have been found on all the Continents and  have amazingly good preservation that the external structure of the body is the best known of all extinct animals. Because of the long tail and spine like appendage at the tip of the tail the Eurypterids have been called " Sea Scorpions " in fact they are closely related to land scorpions and other arachnids.

Mixopterus is the most scorpion-like of the Eurypterids, and possibly the ancestor to all scorpions. This species was a diverse group of spiny Eurypterids and show in the fossil rocks of Norway that they may have been amphibious.

The original fossil from which this cast was made is valued between $30,000 to $40,000 dollars
, and  resides in the Paleontology Museum in Oslo,Norway.

 

Mesolimulus walchi, ( Horseshoe Crab )
Age: Jurassic
Location: Eichstatt, Germany
Formation: Splnhofen Limestone
Size: 12" x 8 1/2"
Cost: $ 130
Item # invert/hcrab-bsr/rg130

FYI:
Coming from the famous 150 million year old Jurassic Solnhofen Lithographic Limestone deposits near Eichstatt, Germany, this is a fine replica example of the Horseshoe Crab Mesolimulus walchi.

Xiphosura, the horseshoe crabs, are related to the extinct Eurypterids, and more distantly to spiders and scorpions. Their lineage traces back to the Cambrian, and extends to modern times as the genus Limulus. This fossil is of a similar genus known as Mesolimulus from the Solnhofen lithographic limestone deposits of Eichstatt, Germany. The 150 million year old lagerstätte deposits of Solnhofen are famous for their exceptionally well-preserved organisms, the most famous of which are the handful of specimens of the ancient bird Archaeopteryx.

While there are only three extant genera and five extant species of Class Xiphosura, they were quite diverse during the Palaeozoic Era. Because they have apparently undergone little change, the extant horseshoe crabs are often considered to be living fossils. Horse shoe crabs have a large shield that covers the cephalothorax, and the carapace is hinged between the cephalothorax and abdomen. The sturdy exoskeleton comprises three parts, the large semicircular cephalothorax, the opisthosoma which is the posterior portion of body behind the cephalothorax, and a long tail spine or telson. The resemblance to trilobites is apparent, and, in fact, the Xiphosura are considered by many to be the closest living relatives of the long-extinct trilobites.
 




 


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The Pre-Cambrian Super Predator

Species Name :
Anomalocaris ( Model )
Age: Pre-Cambrian
Location: Burgess Shale, Canada
Size: 16" long x 8"wide x 5" high
$ 495
Item # invert/anomal495-bsr/rg


FYI:
This fearsome-looking beast is a sculpture of the largest known Burgess Shale animal. Some related specimens found in China reach a length of six feet! The giant limbs in front, which resemble shrimp tails, were used to capture and hold its prey. A formidable mouth on the undersurface of the head had a squared ring of sharp teeth that could close in like nippers to crack the exoskeleton of arthropods or other prey. With those large eyes and a body half flanked with a series of swimming lobes, this must have been an active, formidable predator! Anomalocaris is one of the most widely distributed of the Burgess Shale animals. In addition to Canada and China, specimens have been unearthed in Cambrian deposits in Greenland and Utah.

After death this large organism tended to disintegrate and fall apart into separate chunks, and completely intact fossil remains are very rare. Since these chunks resembled other kinds of simple animals (such as those shrimp-like front limbs), for a long time the separated pieces were interpreted to be individual animals. No one was able to recognize Anomalocaris for what it was until complete specimens began to be found.


 

CRINOIDS






 

Monster Crinoid 
Species: Pentacrinus subangularis
Age: Jurassic
Location: Holzmaden, Germany
Size: 40" x 19" ( plate)
Size: 3 foot long ( Crionid specimen).
Cost: $490
Item # inv/pycrin-490bsr/rg
Made from resin

 
A museum quality fossil reproduction resin cast and extremely durable
  Crinoids are assigned to the phylum Echinodermata, a group of radially symmetrical marine animals, such as the starfish, sea urchins, and brittle stars. Crinoids are commonly referred to as "sea lilies".
  These flower-like marine invertebrate animals are beautifully colored and live as solitary individuals. This species is characterized by a globular body enclosed by a small calyx, from which freely moving arms extended upward to gather food. At the bottom of the jointed, flexible stem, was a root-like structure by which it was attached to the sea bottom. 
  During the past 170 million years, Chemical alteration has replaced the original skeletal hard parts of the fossil with pyrite, also known as "fools gold." 

A real specimen of this size would cost at least
$5000- $8000. 
 



Scyphocrinus elegans
Age: Early Devonian
Location: Atlas Mts. Morocco Africa
Size: 18" x 11" plate.
Size: 12" long x 4" wide head.
Cost: $95 ( out of stock )
Item #  crin/morocco-bsr95

Crinoid Mortality Plate # 1
Species: Pentacrinus briareus

Age: Jurassic
Location: Whitby, England
Size: 14 1/2" x 14" plate.
Size: 6 complete crinoids.
Largest complete crinoid with stem is 9" long
Cost: $99 ( out of stock )
Item #  crin/whitby1-bsr/rg99


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Crinoid Mortality Plate # 2
Species: Pentacrinus briareus
Age: Jurassic
Location: Whitby,England
Size: 24" x 22" plate.
Size: 18 complete crinoids.
Largest complete crinoid with stem is 8" long
Cost: $299
Item #  crin/whitby2-bsr/rg299
 

Please Read
History of this Plaque

This Multi crinoid  plate is one of the best if not the Best ever offered to the fossil collector that shows a multitude of crinoids that were fossilized some 150 million years ago in Whitby, England.

The original or real fossil plate is probably housed at the British Museum. The original fossil was found some 175 years ago.

This Replica appeared in the  Henry A. Ward catalog of fossil replicas of 1866. It was housed in the Ward collection of fossil replicas in Rochester NY.  until 1893 when it was displayed at the Chicago Exhibition ( similar to a World's fair ) with many of his other replicas.. At this time the Field Museum of Chicago bought most of all Henry Ward's collection. This plaque became one of the attractions on display at the museum. As the museum's collection grew in size this plaque was then stored away most likely in their basement for almost 100 years.

In 2002 we acquired this replica and now after 135 years in storage
this FANTASTIC CRINOID PLATE is now available again to fossil collectors, museums and schools etc. Each wall plaque is individually made to order and is made of polyeurathane resin and the weight is far less then the original replica.


Just my opinion but this is the type of fossil you dream about finding and adding to your collection. If you use your imagination you could just see them as still alive in the ocean some 150 million years ago.

*** HENRY WARD - was the founder of Ward's Scientific Co. of Rochester, NY. that is still in business today selling mineral and fossil kits among other scientific equipment to many schools within the USA.

Actinocrinites,Macrocrinus,Halysiocrinus
3 Species.
Age - Mississippian Age
Location - Crawford County, Indiana
Size - 15 1/4" x 9" x 2" ( plate)
Cost : $115
Item #  crin/3spc-115bsr/rg

Note  the original fossil had all 3 species on the same plate.

Archaeocrinus
Age - Mississippian Age
Location - Crawford County, Indiana
Size - 4 3/8" x 3 1/8" plate 3" specimen
Cost : $15
Item #  crin/arch-bsr/rg15



 

AMMONITES & CEPHALOPODS

Proteroctopus ribeti ( Octopus )
Age: Middle Jurassic
Location: Ardeche, France
Cost: $ 25
Size: 4 "
Item #  amm/octopus-25bsr/pp
Note: Earliest known octopus holotype spec.


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Dactylioceras athleticum. # 00
Age: Jurassic
Location: England
Cost: $ 230
Size: 28 " wide
Item #  amm/dacty00-
230bsr/rg


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Ammonites giganteus   # 01
Age: Jurassic
Location: England
Cost: $ 250
Size: 31 " wide ( The Largest cast of an ammonite on the web. )
Item #  amm/gig01-
250bsr/rg
Note: This ammonite cast is from the Henry Ward collection which was made over 120 years ago.
Asteroceras obtisum # 2
Age: Jurassic.
Location: Dorset , England
Cost: $150
Size: 10" x 10"
Item #  amm/astero2-150bsr/rg

Perisphictes sp. # 3
Age: Jurassic.
Location: Mahajahga, Madagascar
Cost: $13 ( comes with display stand )
Size: 3 1/4" ( wide )
Item #  amm/peri3-13bsr/ping


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This wonderful mortality plate has 5 species of ammonites.

Species:
 Placenticeras intercalare 8.5 inches across
Baculites compressus/cuneatus
Holoscaphites landesi
Jeletzkytes brevis
Rhaeboceras halli


Location:  They are from the Upper Cretaceous Age
Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota, USA


The largest ammonite, Placenticeras is 8.5 inches across.

NOTE: This specimen is a composite. It is meant to be a study of species which may be found loose or in the mud balls found along the Pierre Seaway. One of the theories on the formation of these mud balls is that they formed when portions of the bank eroded off and fell into the water. As it rolled, it picked up shells along the way to its final resting-place. This would also account for the random angles that the shells are found at within the mud balls when they are broken. Many mud balls have few or no shells within; while others have high concentrations of various sizes.

Ammonites and baculites belong to the Phylum Mollusca and the Class Cephalopoda. Cephalopod is Latin for head-foot. Cephalopods represent the largest, most intelligent and agile group of the Phylum Mollusca. They have a distinct head, large eyes, a funnel, and a circle of arms with a pair of grasping tentacles around the mouth or beak. The foot of the cephalopod has been modified into a funnel, which can be pointed in different directions. Water is taken into the mantle and expelled through the funnel. The cephalopod is then pushed in the opposite direction from which the funnel is pointing. All cephalopods, except for some octopi, have either an external shell in which the animal lives in the last chamber or an internal shell that is linearly chambered or reduced in size.


Ammonites are similar to today’s nautilus, and those of antiquity, in that they live in a chambered shell. As the animal grows it creates a new and larger chamber, closing off the old, smaller one. All the chambers are connected by a tube called a siphuncle which allowed the ammonite to rise or lower itself in the water. The chambers which the animal does not live in are called the phragmocone and are generally the parts which we find fossilized. Baculites were similar to ammonites except that after about one and a half coils the shell straightened out.

These cephalopods lived in a body of water known as the Pierre Seaway, which had depth ranging between 15 and 200 meters. This seaway ran through the middle of North America from Texas through Canada, including the states of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.
 
Plate size : 12" x 9 1/2"
Cost: $ 600
Item # invert/5ammonites-600bsr/rg

 

 

INSECTS




Dragon Fly
Age: Jurassic.
Location: Germany.
Cost: $30
Size: 7" x 3" ( wing span 6 1/2" )
Item # ins/dfly - 30bsr/pp

Mylacris ( Roach )
Age: Carboniferous
Location: Europe
Cost: $20
Size: 3"
Item # ins/roach - 20bsr/rg

FYI:
Roaches arose in the Pennsylvanian period, about 280 million years ago, and have not changed much since. This replica is from a 260 million-year-old specimen
 

JELLYFISH & CORALS

Charnia masoni, Pre-Cambrian Sea-Pen 
Age: Pre-Cambrian
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Cost: $ 40
Size: 8 3/8" x 3"
Item # invert/sea-pen -40 bsr/rg

FYI:
Charnia is the genus name given to a frond-like Precambrian lifeform with segmented ridges branching alternately to the right and left from a zig-zag medial suture. The genus Charnia was named after Charnwood Forest, where the first specimen was found. There are two species, Charnia masoni and Charnia wardi.
Charnia masoni was discovered by Roger Mason, a schoolboy who would later become a professor of metamorphic petrology, in 1957 in what is now a protected fossil site in Central England. The holotype of this species now resides, along with its sister taxon Charniodiscus, in the Leicester City Museum.
Charnia wardi, later discovered in 1978 in southeast Newfoundland, was first described in 2003. This is the longest known Ediacaran age fossil reaching in some instances over 2m. The holotype is a fragmentary specimen with a Charnia masoni like structure. It was defined as a new species based on long and narrow shape.
Charnia is a highly significant fossil for several reasons. Firstly, it is the first fossil that was ever described that came from undoubted Precambrian rocks. Until this point the Precambrian was thought to be completely devoid of fossils and consequently possibly of life. Despite similar fossils being unearthed in the 1930's (in Namibia) and the 1940's (in Australia), these forms were assumed to be of Cambrian age and so were considered unremarkable at the time. Secondly, Charnia has become an enduring image of Precambrian animals. Originally interpreted as an alga, it was spectacularly recast as a sea pen (a sister group to the modern soft corals) from 1966 onwards. With this image of Precambrian sea pens in mind, the gates were open for the recognition of many other of the major animal groups in the Precambrian.

Charnia is both temporaly and geographically the most widespread Ediacaran fossil. The greatest abundance of specimens, which are also the oldest reliably dated Ediacaran fossils, are found along the southeast coast of Newfoundland.

Eldonia berbera ( Jelly Fish ) # 1
Age: Devonian
Location: Alnif,Morocco
Cost: $90
Size: 6 3/4" on 8" ( matrix )
Item # invert/jelly1 - 90bsr/rg

FYI:
Eldonia is a great example of a problematic fossil organism. Specimens are preserved as a nearly flat impression. Distinct strands radiating from the center are interpreted as radial canals on both the ventral and dorsal surface. There is still considerable debate among paleontologist as to whether they are jellyfish or some other soft-bodied animal.
 

Rhizostomites admirandus ( Jelly Fish ) # 2
Age: Jurassic.
Location: Solnhofen Formation Germany.
Cost: $45
Size: 7" x 6"
Item # ins/jelly2 - 45bsr/pp

Note: To have an animal like this fossilized is extremely rare more so then any dinosaur that roamed on Earth. The original fossil is housed at a museum in California.

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