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Priscacara serrata and Phareodus testis | Green River Formation | Wyoming

Priscacara serrata and Phareodus testis | Green River Formation | Wyoming

by In Stone Fossils
$2,400.00 - $2,400.00
$2,400.00
$2,400.00 - $2,400.00
$2,400.00
Priscacara serrata and Phareodus testis
Eocene (51.98 Million Years Ago)
Private Quarry, Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA
Preparation by Jim Tynsky
Obtained from the collection of Dr. William Rieger

 

Plate approx. size: 15" x 12.75" x 1.25"

Priscacara approx. size: 7.5"

Phareodus approx. size: 5.5"

 

**Due to the size of this specimen, it will be shipped in an internationally compliant wooden crate.
 
Please contact us for a specific shipping rate. You may opt in for in-store pickup to cut your shipping costs all together and pick up your specimen in person. You can pick up from our store location in Kemmerer, Wyoming, or we deliver to both the Denver Gem & Mineral show in the Fall and the Tucson Gem & Mineral show in the winter. For any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.

 

 

Order Perciformes

Family Moronidae - C. liops, P. serrata, H. hypsacantha, and undescribed Priscacara & Hypsiprisca species

P. serrata is perhaps the most popular and sought after of the Green River Formation fish fossils. The Moronidae are a family of perciform fishes, commonly called the temperate basses. P. serrata is an uncommon find compared to Cockerellites liops, which are often confused without proper examination and preparation. P. serrata are typically larger than C. liops. The best preserved fossils are extracted from the famous "18-inch Layer" on either very sunny days or at night under halogen lights. The reason for this is because a fine layer of limestone shale covers the fossils, and we need to see protruding backbones cast a shadow in order to find the fossils.

 

 

This Phareodus testis, smaller than it's Phareodus encaustus counterpart, was a predator in ancient Fossil Lake. Featuring pointy teeth and a long pectoral fin. 


Bony-Tongue Fish - 2 Species Identified: Phareodus encaustus & Phareodus testis

Order Osteoglossiformes, Family Osteoglossidae
Living members of the Osteoglossidae family:
  • include 10 modern species
  • live exclusively in tropical freshwaters
  • found in South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia
  • mouth-brooders (parents hold eggs and hatchlings in their mouths)
Phareodus fossils:
  • adult specimens usually found alone, but juveniles known from mass mortalities
  • indicates that Phareodus schooled as a juvenile and became solitary as an adult
  • often preserved with smaller fish in their jaws and stomach, indicating they were predators
  • rearward oriented fins on back and underside, adaptation for speed
  • large, sharp teeth
  • max known size of P. encaustus: 30 inches
  • max known size of P. testis: 20 inches