Reviews
13" Green River Fish Fossil (Mioplosus) - Ash Layer
This is a very nice, 13" long fossil fish (Mioplosus labracoides) from the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Mioplosus is one of the more uncommon species from this formation. It was collected this past summer from the ash layer near Kemmerer, Wyoming. This layer has a beautiful orange coloration that really pops.
This stunning fish has red-brown, detailed preservation and is located on a 21 x 13.5" slab of shale. The rock has been backed with wood and wall hanging hardware for wall hanging presentation.
This stunning fish has red-brown, detailed preservation and is located on a 21 x 13.5" slab of shale. The rock has been backed with wood and wall hanging hardware for wall hanging presentation.
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).
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
Mioplosus labracoides
LOCATION
Kemmerer, Wyoming
FORMATION
Green River Formation (Ash Layer)
SIZE
Fish: 13" long, Shale: 21 x 13.5", Weight: 16 lbs
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#299822
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