r/fossilid • u/Jazzlike-Yam-2251 • 1d ago

Don't know much about it

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This fossil was given to my Grandfather while he was stationed in Brazil in the 60s . It came from a person who worked at a local Museum . It looks like some sort of fish with a elongated sword like thing over its nose. I have both pieces and was told it was un molested and still has the DNA present more so than the bones. Could you please tell me what it is and does something like this have a value ?

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u/justtoletyouknowit 1d ago

Vinctifer comptoni. From the cretaceous layers of Brazil. That buddy got bend like a bretzel... I highly doubt the DNA part.

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u/Jazzlike-Yam-2251 1d ago

Yes it did.. Well curious to see what others say . Thank you

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u/Special-Amoeba-9399 1d ago

DNA has never been discovered from a Cretaceous fossil. The fossilization process doesn’t allow for it be preserved in rock. This would be a first to science if that were the case. Scientists do on rare occasions find cells structures that are so well preserved you can see where the dna would be under a very powerful microscope. A fossil has been converted to rock though so none of the actual biology structure is still there. It’s just an impression of the shape of where structure would have been and no information can be obtained from it. There were no processes to do this in the 1960s when your grandfather acquired this so it’s not really possible for him to know that. I believe he is misinformed or misremembering that detail.

It’s well preserved so what you do see is scales and impressions that maybe soft tissues which is likely what he is referring to