13.5" Phareodus Fossil Fish - Voracious Lake Predator


This is a large, 13.5" long example of one of the more uncommon fossil fish found in the Green River Formation, Phareodus. As an added bonus there is a small Diplomystus preserved just behind the fishes tail. There is some repair to the right edge of the rock in front of the fish's head, and a small amount of restoration to the very front of the head.

Comes with a display stand. We can add a backing and wall hanger upon request for an additional $20.

If you look closely you can see how Phareodus has a mouthful of sharp pointy teeth making is a voracious lake predator. In fact the name Phareodus actually means "to have tooth" Spines from other fish such as Mioplosus and Priscacara have frequently been found preserved in it's stomach.
50 million years ago, in the Eocene, 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.
A view of one of the commercial quarries where fossils from the Green River Formation are collected.


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Phareodus testis & Diplomystus dentatus
LOCATION
Kemmerer, Wyoming
FORMATION
Green River Formation
SIZE
10" long on 10.5x6.5" rock
CATEGORY
ITEM
#63359
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