Fossil Fish Aspiration Mural
Early Eocene (approx. 52-48 million years ago), Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
No reserve
Auction Closed
July 17, 03:28 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Fossil Fish Aspiration Mural
Diplomystus dentatus, Knightia eocaena, and Priscacara liops/Cockerellites liops
Early Eocene (approx. 52-48 million years ago)
Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
Mural measures 35½ by 30½ x 3 inches (90.2 x 77.5 x 7.62 cm). Largest fish (Diplomystus dentatus) measures 19.5 inches. 118 pounds (53.5 kg).
The central specimen is lying with its right side exposed, beautifully preserved in fine detail. The skeleton is articulated with virtually no distortion, displayed almost as it may have appeared in life millions of years ago.
A RARE AND DRAMATIC MOMENT OF PREHISTORIC LIFE AND DEATH CAPTURED IN TIME
A fatal encounter for both predator and prey is captured in this rare fossil discovery. Rendered in exquisite detail, the present lot exhibits how an extinct type of Herring (Diplomystus dentatus) miscalculated the size of a smaller herring (Knightia eocanea), and choked to death in the process of gulping it down.
This exceptional mural features Diplomystus dentatus, characterized by its distinctive upturned mouth bristling with teeth, prominently at the center. Framing the predator are the more delicate Knightia eocaena and a smaller Cockerellites liops.
50 million years ago, the Green River Formation comprised an area of more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 sq. km) of interconnected subtropical lakes spread across the current states of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Today, the region of the Green River Formation known as "Fossil Lake" boasts some of the most abundant and well-preserved freshwater fossils anywhere in the world.