Garfish | Atractosteus simplex with Diplomystus | Green River Formation | Wyoming

Atractosteus simplex with Diplomystus
Eocene (51.98 million years)
Green River Formation, Wyoming
In Stone Fossils Private Quarry

Plate approx. size: 40" x 56.5"

Gar fish approx. size: 27.5" long

Diplomystus approx. size: 16"

This beautiful specimen has had absolutely no repair or restoration. An interesting feature of this specimen is that part of the spinal column is protruding through the scales. Usually you do not see the backbone on Gar fish because it remains buried beneath the scales. Predation can be seen on the anal fin, which was in process of growing back.

We take great pride in hand selecting the best specimens out of our private quarry. Our Green River Formation specimens are all prepared using surgical grade microscopes and the very best fossil preparation tools available. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality specimens available. 

Gars are one of the largest and rarest fish found in the formation. They were fierce predators, having a long, narrow mouth full of sharp teeth. It's preserved as a ventral view with the dorsal skull structure exposed to the top of the specimen.

Gars - 4 Species Identified:

Lepisosteus bemisi & Atractosteus simplex & Atractosteus atrox & Masillosteus janei

Order Lepisosteiformes, Family Lepisosteidae

Seven living gar species are found in freshwaters of North America, Central America, and Cuba. Of the 4 Fossil Lake gar species, all but one are very similar to modern gars.

M. janei lacked the long jaw and sharp teeth characteristic of modern gars. M janei. teeth were instead rounded and flat, ideal for crushing small invertebrates like snails and crayfish. This gar species is primarily found in association with these fossil invertebrates.

Outside of the FBM, gar scales are much more common fossils than complete skeletons. The gars' characteristic, diamond-shaped scales have historically been used by humans as arrowheads and on protective breastplates. Their tough scales offer significant protection from would be predators.

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.

**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. We recommend a french cleat system for hanging purposes.