2.9" Diplomystus Dentatus Fossil Fish Green River FM WY Eocene Age COA, Stand

Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

Weight: 7.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 5.6 Inches Long, 3.8 Inches Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick (Plate)

Fish Dimensions: 2.9 Inches Long, 1 Inch Wide

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56 million years old, Eocene age.

The fossil fish Diplomystus dentatus shows a distinctive upward-curving mouth, a trait that strongly suggests it was adapted for feeding at the surface of the water. This anatomical feature indicates that Diplomystus likely captured prey swimming just below or at the air–water interface. As a close relative of modern herrings, it is thought to have preyed primarily on small fish. This behavior is supported by fossil evidence, including specimens that preserve Knightia remains within their body cavities, providing rare insight into predator-prey interactions from the Paleogene.

During the early Eocene, around 50 million years ago, Fossil Lake formed a large freshwater body in what is now southwestern Wyoming. At its maximum extent, the lake covered roughly 930 square miles, making it a dominant feature of the regional landscape. Today, erosion has reduced the exposed sediments to about 500 square miles, with approximately 230 square miles of central lake-bed deposits that are especially famous for their finely layered limestone and remarkable fossil content.

The exceptional preservation at Fossil Lake is the result of unique environmental conditions. The lake’s water chemistry and low oxygen levels limited bacterial decay and discouraged scavengers, allowing organisms to be buried quickly in thin sediment layers. This process produced one of the most important fossil fish deposits in the world, along with an extensive record of plants, insects, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Together, these fossils provide a detailed and rare snapshot of a Paleogene freshwater ecosystem.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried underground for millions of years under immense pressure is a tough process. Rarely does a fossil emerge intact and perfect. Most fossils require some restoration, and some are modified by humans to improve their appearance. These features are part of the fossil's natural charm and should not be seen as flaws.