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Five Diplomystus and a Phareodus | 100% Natural | Green River Formation | Wyoming

Five Diplomystus and a Phareodus | 100% Natural | Green River Formation | Wyoming

by In Stone Fossils
$25,000.00 - $25,000.00
$25,000.00
$25,000.00 - $25,000.00
$25,000.00

Diplomystus dentatus & Phareodus testis
Unrestored specimen, 100% Natural
Eocene (51.98 Million Years Ago)
Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA
In Stone Fossils Private Quarry

 

Plate approx. size: 46.75" x 42.75" x 2"

Diplomystus approx. sizes: 7.25", 8", 16.5", 18", & 18"

Phareodus approx. size: 5.25"


**Due to the size of this specimen, it will be shipped in an internationally compliant wooden crate. The plate itself is backed with 3/4" plywood for durability and easy wall hanging, a french cleat hanging system is included as well.

Shipping costs will be calculated and billed after purchase. Please contact us if you need a specific shipping rate prior to purchase. 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.

 

Diplomystus is an extinct genus of freshwater clupeomorph fish distantly related to modern-day extant herrings, alewives, and sardines. The genus was first named and described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877.

Ray-finned Fish - Diplomystus dentatus

Order Ellimmichthyiformes, Family Paraclupeidae

The last known species of the Ellimmichthyiformes order went extinct sometime in the middle Eocene. D. dentatus is a primitive relative of the modern day herring. The genus Diplomystus is also known from fossil deposits in China.

D. dentatus is the 2nd most common fossil fish found from Fossil Lake. Specimens ranging from embryonic size (about 0.7 inches) to full-grown adults (about 26 inches) are common. Smaller-sized specimens are more commonly found in mid-lake than near-shore deposits. This suggests that D. dentatus spawned in open water.

This species' upturned mouth indicates it fed at the surface of Fossil Lake. D. dentatus specimens are commonly found with other fish stuck in their mouths, including other D. dentatus specimens.

 

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
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