Rare Fossil Shortnose Gar with Two Fish
Early Eocene (56 - 48 million years ago), Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
No reserve
Auction Closed
July 26, 08:15 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Rare Fossil Shortnose Gar with Two Fish
Masillostues janeae, Diplomystus dentatus, Knightia eocaena
Early Eocene (56 - 48 million years ago)
Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
Shortnose Gar measures 37 x 10½ inches (94.0 x 26.7 cm). 55 x 43 inches (140 x 109 cm) in matrix. 224 pounds (102 kg).
This fossil represents a very rare species of extinct short-snouted garfish hardly ever found in the Green River Formation. The skeleton is complete and well preserved with left side (slightly dorsal lateral) exposed. The skull and skeleton is microscope-prepared revealing the finest surface detail. The shiny enamel scales (ganoid) are intact. The right pectoral and dorsal fins are not evident.
Approximately 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.
An incredibly rare fish found in the Green River Formation's Fossil Lake, Masillostues janeae was a shortnose gar with flat grinding teeth that were perfectly well-adapted for feeding on small invertebrates such as snails and crayfish. Associated with this specimen are two other fossil fish: the large surface-feeder, Diplomystus dentatus, characterized by its distinctive upturned mouth bristling with teeth, as well as a representative of Wyoming's state fossil, the herring-like Knightia eocaena.
REFERENCES:
https://www.nps.gov/fobu/learn/nature/fossil-fish.htm