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

Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

Weight: 9.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 6.4 Inches Long, 3.8 Inches Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick (Plate)

Fish Dimensions: 3.2 Inches Long, 1.1 Inches Wide

Comes with a Free Stand.

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

56 million years old, Eocene age.

The morphology of Diplomystus Dentatus, particularly its upturned mouth, is characteristic of surface-feeding fish. This genus, belonging to the herring family, likely preyed upon small fish inhabiting the water’s surface, as supported by fossil evidence showing numerous specimens with Knightia present in their stomachs or mouths.

Fifty million years ago, ancient Fossil Lake existed in what is now southwest Wyoming. Of its estimated maximum extent of 930 square miles, approximately 500 square miles of sediment remains. The 230 square miles across the center of the ancient lake-bed contain exceptionally fossiliferous sediments and associated geologic features, including deltas, beaches, springs, and rocks from the center and nearshore environments.

The fossil lake’s rare chemistry stopped decay and scavengers in their tracks, while thin layers of limestone stacked up over time. This created laminated stones packed with the densest fossil fish deposits on Earth. Alongside diverse aquatic life and striking geological details, Fossil Lake stands as the ultimate Paleogene snapshot of a freshwater world frozen in time.

Since the discovery in the 1870s, many perfectly preserved fossil fish have been recovered. Preserved with the fish in the laminated limestone is a complete aquatic ecosystem: cyanobacteria, plants, insects, crustaceans (shrimp, crawfish, and ostracods), amphibians (frog and primitive salamander), alligators, turtles, birds, and mammals, including the oldest pantolestid (otter-like animal). The subtropical terrestrial ecosystem surrounding the lake is also represented by rare fossils, including a horse, two snakes, lizards, two bat species, birds, an apatemyid (an arboreal insectivore), a minced (a primitive carnivore), insects, and more than 325 types of leaves, seeds, and flowers.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man, simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.