Fossil matrix - Ichthyosauria - 29 cm

Exceptional paleontological collectible piece showing a skull of a prehistoric marine reptile. The specimen is identified within the order Ichthyosauria, with a high likelihood of belonging to the family Barracudasauroides Panxianensis, an iconic marine predator of the Mesozoic era. Period: Middle Triassic (Mesozoic), approximately between 242 and 247 million years ago. Provenance: Former private collection acquired in Hong Kong. Dimensions: 23 cm in total length (29 cm with the matrix included). Detailed anatomical features of the skull: This piece stands out for preserving key cranial bone structures with extraordinary relief and definition: . Orbital cavity and ring: The large eye orbit in the left sector is clearly observable, preserving the three-dimensional depth of the structure that housed the scleral ring. . Nasal fossa (Naris): Right in front of the orbit, the elongated opening corresponding to the reptile’s external nasal cavity is perfectly visible. . Mandibular structure and sutures: The elongated snout (rostrum) shows the lines of fusion and natural sutures between the upper and lower maxillary bones, revealing the original hydrodynamic morphology of the animal. . Texture of fossilized bone: In the posterior and superior areas of the cranium, genuine porosity and the rough texture of the original bone material replaced by minerals are evident, differentiating it from artificial reproductions. . Calcite insertion and matrix: As an exceptional geological and aesthetic feature, the piece is transversely crossed by a natural vein of white calcite that cuts cleanly through both the rock matrix and the fossil’s snout. This mineral line acts as an indisputable "authenticity seal,” demonstrating that the fossil and the rock shared the same fracture and tectonic mineralization process over millions of years.

Estimate:$1,569.78

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