XL 4" Diplomystus Dentatus Fossil Fish Green River FM WY Eocene Age COA, Stand

Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming

Weight: 7.5 Ounces

Dimensions: 6.2 Inches Long, 3.1 Inches Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick (Plate)

Fish Dimensions: 4 Inches Long, 1.3 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 surface-oriented predator whose upturned mouth indicates an ability to capture prey swimming at or near the water’s surface. Closely related to modern herrings, this fish likely hunted small schooling species. Fossil evidence confirms this feeding behavior, with preserved remains of Knightia found inside some Diplomystus specimens, offering direct insight into the food web of Fossil Lake.

During the early Paleogene, approximately 50 million years ago, Fossil Lake occupied a broad basin in present-day southwestern Wyoming. The lake once extended across roughly 930 square miles, making it one of the largest freshwater bodies in the region at the time. Today, about 500 square miles of sedimentary rock remain, including around 230 square miles of central lake-bed deposits that are internationally recognized for their finely laminated limestone.

The exceptional fossil preservation at Fossil Lake is the result of special environmental conditions. Reduced oxygen levels and distinct chemical properties of the water limited decay and discouraged scavengers. This allowed organisms to be buried intact in thin sediment layers, preserving not only fish but also algae, plants, insects, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Together, these fossils provide one of the most complete records of a Paleogene freshwater ecosystem ever discovered.

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.