Bargain, 3" Fossil Fish (Amphiplaga) - Rare Species

Bargain, Fossil Fish (Amphiplaga) - Rare Species #229538

This is a rare, 3" long fossil fish (Amphiplaga brachyptera) from the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Amphiplaga makes up far less than 1% of the fossil fish found in the formation. It's a small fish and is a member of the "trout-perch" family. Because of its rarity it was almost certainly solitary, not a schooling fish like the more common species found in the lake.

An acrylic display stand will accompany your purchase.

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.