Fish

Diversity of life

From teeth and scales to aquatic faunas

Fossil fish are not always preserved as complete skeletons. Teeth, jaws, scales, fin spines and vertebrae nevertheless reveal diversity that is often hard to see during excavation.

Crushing teeth of Scheenstia cf. mantelli, Cherves-de-Cognac: a regional comparison. © P. Blanchier. Dinosaures, les géants du vignoble, 2017, p. 159.

The method in practice

Specialists describe these remains, compare their forms and place them within assemblages. Teeth provide evidence of feeding strategies, while group composition and proportions help assess environments. Screen-washing and microscope sorting play an important role.

At Angeac and in regional comparisons

The fish faunas of Angeac, Cherves and Chassiron differ in abundance and composition. Some forms can inhabit waters of different salinities, so their presence alone does not measure salinity. Cherves jaws and Chassiron teeth provide regional comparisons with distinct provenances.

Fish and plesiosaurs in a reconstructed aquatic environment. © Mazan. Dinosaures, les géants du vignoble, 2017, pp. 162–163.

What this research reveals

Aquatic discoveries at Angeac are considered alongside sediments, coprolites and other vertebrates. A fish skeleton from Sigogne or Canjuers is a comparative example, distinct from specimens collected at the site.

Specimens and data

Fish identified through teeth and scales

Fish fossils collected at Angeac include shark teeth, crushing dentitions, scales and jaw fragments. Scales vary between panels.

Enlarge each plate to examine labels, specimen identifiers and scale bars.

Hybodont shark teeth and denticles — Angeac-Charente, figure 5 — **Hybodont shark teeth and denticles.** Figure 5, p. 691. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

Pycnodont fish dentitions — Angeac-Charente, figure 6 — **Pycnodont fish dentitions.** Figure 6, p. 692. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

Fish teeth, scales and jaws — Angeac-Charente, figure 7 — **Fish teeth, scales and jaws.** Figure 7, p. 693. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

Fish teeth, jaw and vertebra — Angeac-Charente, figure 8 — **Fish teeth, jaw and vertebra.** Figure 8, p. 694. Allain et al., 2022. © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Scientific source ↗

People and expertise

Romain Vullo contributes expertise in fossil fish identification. Field and collection teams take part in collecting, sorting, preparing and photographing specimens.

Romain Vullo

All the people behind the project →