Thursius pholidotus Traquair

Specimen from Caithness.

This medium to large sized osteolepid is found at the base and higher up in the Rousay Subgroup. In the fish beds it is common, often together with the tiny arthrodira Millerosteus minor. In the sediments, indicating a shallow water condition only scales and plates of the head can be found. The scales look very much like those of Gyroptychius milleri.

It is a top predator but was probably eaten by the porolepiform Glyptolepis.

Head of the above specimen.

Reconstruction of fish in lateral view (after Jarvik, 1948) ©.

Tail of the fish.

Head in dorsal view.

Head in lateral view.

Reconstruction of head in A: lateral, B: dorsal and C: ventral view (after Jarvik, 1948) ©.

For more examples of scale histology see the information on this page.