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11.8" Scarce Fossil Fish (Phareodus) - Wyoming
This is an 11.8" long fossil fish (Phareodus encaustus) from the Green River Formation of Wyoming. It was collected this past summer just outside of Kemmerer, Wyoming. A well preserved specimen with fin detail and visible teeth in its mouth.
It has been backed with wood and is accompanied by a display stand. Upon request we can add wall mounting hardware at no additional cost.
There is a repaired crack running through the rock/fossil. There is some touchup restoration and gap fill along this crack. A couple additional spots of surface restoration can be found scattered across the fossil.
It has been backed with wood and is accompanied by a display stand. Upon request we can add wall mounting hardware at no additional cost.
There is a repaired crack running through the rock/fossil. There is some touchup restoration and gap fill along this crack. A couple additional spots of surface restoration can be found scattered across the fossil.
Phareodus is a genus of predatory freshwater fish found in the famous Fossil Lake deposits of the Green River Formation in Wyoming. It had a mouthful of sharp pointy teeth, making it a voracious lake predator. In fact, the name Phareodus actually means "to have teeth". Spines from other fish such as Mioplosus and Priscacara have frequently been found preserved in their stomachs.
About Fossil Lake
50 million years ago, in the Eocene epoch, these fish thrived in Fossil Lake, which was fed by the Uinta and Rocky Mountain highlands. The anoxic conditions at the bottom of Fossil Lake slowed bacterial decomposition, prevented scavengers from disturbing corpses, and, most interestingly, suffocated creatures that ventured into the oxygen-starved aquatic layer. The result is a miraculous exhibition of Eocene biota: a subtropical aquatic community within sycamore forests, teeming with creatures such as freshwater stingrays, dog-sized horses, menacing alligators, early flying bats, and one of the first primates.
A view of one of the commercial quarries where fossils from the Green River Formation are collected.
50 million years ago, in the Eocene epoch, these fish thrived in Fossil Lake, which was fed by the Uinta and Rocky Mountain highlands. The anoxic conditions at the bottom of Fossil Lake slowed bacterial decomposition, prevented scavengers from disturbing corpses, and, most interestingly, suffocated creatures that ventured into the oxygen-starved aquatic layer. The result is a miraculous exhibition of Eocene biota: a subtropical aquatic community within sycamore forests, teeming with creatures such as freshwater stingrays, dog-sized horses, menacing alligators, early flying bats, and one of the first primates.
A view of one of the commercial quarries where fossils from the Green River Formation are collected.
SPECIES
Phareodus encaustus
LOCATION
Kemmerer, Wyoming
FORMATION
Green River Formation
SIZE
11.8" long on 14.4 x 7.1" rock
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#300321
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