10" Predatory Mioplosus Fish Fossil - Wall Mount

Predatory Mioplosus Fish Fossil - Wall Mount #8408

This is a very large and well preserved example of an uncommon fossil fish from the Green River Formation, Mioplosus labracoides. It's approximately 48 million years old and came from the famous "18 inch layer at Warfield's Quarry near Kemmerer, Wyoming. The 18 inch layer yields much darker and better preserved fish than the more often collected split fish layers.

This specimen is highly detailed with the bone structure, vertebrae, fins and tail well preserved. It is centered on a 24x18" slab of natural matrix. There is a crack in the piece but it has been well repaired and is not visible on the front side. This piece would be great for mounting on a wall. We can cut the slab down or back it with wood for stability and mounting upon request for no charge. We can also get it framed to your specifications for an additional charge.

Mioplosus is a genus of large extinct perciform fish that lived through the Eocene epoch. This genus is easily distinguished by an elongate fusiform body, double dorsal fins, and forked tail. Mioplosus was a solitary predator with large teeth: a few fossil specimens have been collected with other, smaller fish lodged in their throats. Most fossils of this genus are from the Tertiary-aged Green River Formation in Wyoming, though relatives of this genus are known to range throughout Asia and New Zealand. Mioplosus is also believed to be related to the modern pike-perch of the genus Sander (Stizostedion).

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