XL 4.8" Diplomystus Dentatus Fossil Fish Green River FM WY Eocene Age COA, Stand

Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

Weight: 8.9 Ounces

Dimensions: 5.1 Inches Long, 5.3 Inches Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick (Plate)

Fish Dimensions: 4.8 Inches Long, 1.5 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.

Diplomystus dentatus was a specialized surface-feeding fish, identifiable by its upward-facing mouth, which allowed it to capture prey swimming near the top of the water column. As a close relative of modern herrings, it likely fed on small schooling fish. Fossil discoveries have preserved direct evidence of this behavior, with remains of Knightia found within some Diplomystus specimens.

Approximately 50 million years ago, Fossil Lake spread across a broad region of what is now southwestern Wyoming, covering about 930 square miles. This expansive freshwater lake supported a rich and complex ecosystem. Today, about 500 square miles of lake sediments remain, including roughly 230 square miles of central lake-bed deposits that are famous for their finely laminated limestone and exceptional fossil content.

The lake’s environmental chemistry was ideal for fossilization. Reduced oxygen levels and unusual water chemistry slowed decomposition and limited scavenger activity. These conditions allowed organisms to be rapidly buried and preserved with remarkable detail. As a result, Fossil Lake preserves not only abundant fossil fish but also a complete ecological community, including algae, plants, insects, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. This extraordinary site offers one of the clearest windows into a Paleogene freshwater ecosystem and its surrounding subtropical environment.

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.