Brychaetus muelleri

Brychaetus fossils are rare to find in the London Clay but examples can be found in Divisions D/E from the Isle of Sheppey. They are typically very large fish (with skulls over 30cm) with bodies covered in very large, armour-like scales (a common characteristic of this order). The teeth of Brychaetus are unqiue and easy to identify being very robust, wide at the base and having an enamel-tip.

This image is of the modern Arapaima fish from Brazil which is also part of the Osteoglossidae family.

“MCZ:Ich:52291 Arapaima gigas” – Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822). Collected in Brazil by © President and Fellows of Harvard College (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Large sclerotic ossicle present in eye orbit (1)
Large enamel tipped teeth (2)
Fibrous, ornamentation on frontal bones above orbit (3)
Three raised parallel ridges towards the anterior of the top of the skull (4)
Large operculum (5)

Primary Example: HOLOTYPE NHMUK PV P 3893

3D Scan: HOLOTYPE NHMUK PV P 3893

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. From the collections of the Natural History Museum, London

Additional Example: NHMUK PV OR 32345

Additional Example: Detail of characteristic teeth

Additional example: Dan Hogburn

Additional Example: Dan Hogburn finding the specimen fresh on the beach

3D Scan - Dan Hogburn Example

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission.

Additional example: M Challen

3D Scan - M Challen Example

Preperation Video - M Challen Example

References

Casier, E. (1966) Fauna ichthyologique du London Clay. British Museum Natural History London, 1966, 1-496
Monsch, K (2005) Revision of the scombroid fishes from the Cenozoic of England
Raynor, Mitchell, Clouter (2009) London Clay Fossils of Kent and Essex