Fossil Gar Scale
Lepisosteus sp.
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
A small, glossy diamond-shaped armour scale from a gar, hard as enamel and often mistaken for a tooth.
- Typical size
- 0.25–0.75 in
- How often it turns up
- Common in fossil gravel
- Collecting
- Archaeological, leave in place
- Handling
- Sharp edges
Fossil fish material is less restricted than vertebrate megafauna, but state-land collecting rules still apply.
The edges can be surprisingly sharp — handle small scales carefully.
How to tell it apart
- Diamond or rhomboid outline
- Glossy enamel-like surface on one side
- Rough, ridged underside
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for fossils. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Caspersen Beach · Venice
- Englewood Beach (Chadwick Park) · Englewood
- Stump Pass Beach State Park · Englewood
- Turner Beach · Captiva
- Turtle Beach · Siesta Key
Found one?
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More fossils in the field guide
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