Species: Diplomystus dentatus Age: Eocene (approx. 50 million years ago) Source: Green River, WY Size: 5.25" x 3"
Diplomystus dentatus is an extinct genus of freshwater fish belonging to the same family as herrings and sardines, found in the Green River formation in Wyoming.
The unusual chemical conditions at the bottom of Fossil Lake, part of the Green River formation, slowed bacterial decomposition, prevented scavengers from disturbing corpses, and suffocated creatures that ventured into the oxygen-starved aquatic layer. This resulted in a range of perfectly preserved animal remains, including a number of these incredibly well-preserved prehistoric fish.
