Spiny shark Diplacanthus

This so called "spiny shark" Diplacanthus spec. comes from the Devonian layers of the Orkney 
Islands in Scotland.

Diplacanthus is an extinct fish belonging to the Acanthodian family. The age of this fossil 
amounts to about 350 million years.

This specimen is well preserved and shows the pimpled skin structure and the typical fin 
spines. These fish had toothless mouths and probably ate algae on the sea floor.

The fossil measures about 11 cm. The stone is original and unbroken, measuring 
approximately 16 x 11.5 x 3 cm.

Thinly laquered, no further maniupulations.