30109- Eocene 7.09 Inch Palaeoperca proxima Fossil Fish - Messel Shale Turtle with three pairs of curved

with three pairs of curved projections bearing marginal spines

Impressive huge vertebra bone of this species of Elasmosaurus in its phosphatic matrix

open shallow subtidal (2)

Sister taxa: Ankistrorhynchus

30109- Eocene 7.09 Inch Palaeoperca proxima Fossil Fish - Messel Shale Turtle with three pairs of curvedPalaeoperca, Micklich 1978 (perch like fish) Osteichthyes Perciformes It was prepared using a classic resin transfer process. Since the oil shales the fossils at Messel are filled with water they would disintegrate if allowed to dry out. The fossils are coated in a layer of resin to create an artificial matrix and then all of the shale is removed from the other side. This leaves the fossil embedded in a plate of hardened resin.