Palaeonisciformes Fossil Donated By Johnathan Baldwin

 In 2017, Johnathan Baldwin made a major breakthrough by discovering an exceptionally rare, complete palaeonisciform fish fossil to the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS). 

What is a Palaeonisciform? Belonging to the extinct order Palaeonisciformes, these ancient predators were among the earliest ray finned bony fish. They ruled local waters during the Carboniferous period (roughly 300 to 350 million years ago), back when Kentucky was located near the equator and covered by a shallow, warm tropical sea.  

The specific specimen donated by Johnathan Baldwin is currently housed in the paleontological collections of the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS).