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

Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

Weight: 12.4 Ounces

Dimensions: 4.4 Inches Long, 3.9 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick (Plate)

Fish Dimensions: 3.7 Inches Long, 1 Inch Wide

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The item pictured is the one you will receive.

56 million years old, Eocene age.

Diplomystus dentatus was a surface-feeding fish whose upturned mouth provides clear evidence of its feeding ecology. This anatomical adaptation indicates that the species captured prey swimming near the surface. As a close relative of modern herrings, Diplomystus likely fed on small fish, a theory supported by fossil discoveries that preserve partially digested Knightia within the body cavity of some specimens.

Around 50 million years ago, Fossil Lake occupied a broad basin in present-day southwestern Wyoming. At its maximum extent, the lake covered approximately 930 square miles, supporting a diverse freshwater ecosystem. Today, about 500 square miles of lake sediments remain exposed, including roughly 230 square miles of central lake-bed limestone that is internationally recognized for its fine lamination and outstanding fossil preservation.

The exceptional quality of fossils from Fossil Lake is linked to its unusual chemical environment. Low oxygen conditions and specific water chemistry limited bacterial decay and scavenging. This allowed organisms to be preserved in extraordinary detail within thin sediment layers. The site now provides one of the most complete records of Paleogene freshwater life, preserving fish, plants, insects, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and early mammals in remarkable abundance.

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.