Jellyfish Rhizostomides, Solnhofen #1

Fossil Jellyfish (Rhizostomides spec.) - Unique Top-Tier Piece from the fammous German Solnhofen Plattenkalk!
For sale is an absolute rarity: A fascinating, fossil jellyfish of the species Rhizostomides spec. from the Jurassic Malm zeta. This extraordinary exhibit impresses with its impressive size and the excellent preservation on a completely unbroken natural slab.

The most important details at a glance:

• Fossil: Rhizostomides spec. (Fossil jellyfish)
• Age: Jurassic, Malm zeta (approx. 150 million years old)
• Locality: Gungolding / Hofstetten (Bavaria, Germany)
• Size of the fossil: Approx. 19 cm diameter
• Dimensions of the slab: 27.5 x 23 x 1.5 cm (Completely unbroken!)

Worth knowing about the species Rhizostomides:

• Primeval rhizostome jellyfish: The genus Rhizostomides belongs to the order of rhizostome jellyfish (Rhizostomeae). Typical for this group is that in the adult stage they do not possess a central ring of tentacles, but instead strongly branched, fleshy oral arms with which they filtered plankton from the water.
• The miracle of soft-body preservation: Since jellyfish consist of around 98 percent water and possess no hard parts whatsoever like bones or shells, their fossil record is a biological paradox. Rhizostomides is a prime example of how, under extreme conditions in the Jurassic sea, even the most delicate gelatinous structures could be immortalized plastically in the fine lime mud.
• Paleo-ecology: These animals drifted 150 million years ago in the warm, shallow subtropical lagoon sea of the Solnhofen Archipelago. A sudden lack of oxygen on the seafloor prevented the biological decay and scavenging by scavengers after the jellyfish sank, allowing these unique impressions to form.

Special highlights of this exhibit:

• Sensational preservation: The umbrella and the characteristic, concentric ring structures as well as the central zone of this Rhizostomides specimen are wonderfully visible and stand out plastically from the slab.
• Unbroken original slab: In contrast to many other large fossils, this limestone slate slab is left in its found condition and not glued or assembled. It features a perfect, handy format for any upscale collection or exclusive room decoration.
• Strictly limited finding opportunities: The classic localities of the Solnhofen Plattenkalk are world-famous, but access is becoming increasingly strictly regulated. Many quarries have long been closed, renatured, or are absolutely inaccessible to private collectors. New, high-quality finds from these layers are becoming rarer from year to year – a true investment!
• The peculiarity of the locality: While most pieces originate from the classic Solnhofen or Eichstaett districts, the locality Gungolding / Hofstetten represents a very specific, paleo-ecological facies. Fossils from this exact place of origin are extremely underrepresented on the market and highly sought after among connoisseurs for their fine preservation and scientific significance.
• Provenance from a renowned old collection: This piece originates from the well-known old collection of the deceased collector and dealer Juergen Schmidt from Frankfurt. On the back of the limestone slab, the original, old collection label from Schmidt is still attached. Fossil objects with this verifiable origin stem from old stocks that were secured many decades ago during the active operating times of the quarries. For collectors and auction houses, this provenance is considered a clear seal of quality and proof of origin.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to acquire a true museum piece for your collection!

SOLD

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