curbdiggercarl57
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Green River Fossil Fish?
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Very nice. It looks to me to be Diplomystus dentatus, but you’re showing it upside down. This type of detailed preservation is known as ‘Laggerstatten’ and is typical for Green River specimens from Wyoming, western Colorado, and eastern Utah. There are similar specimens of closely-related species such as Diplomystus shengliensis from China and, more recently, from Vietnam.
Often they’re small and relatively inexpensive fossils but, at that impressive size, I’ve seen dealers asking prices just north of $1,000. The value would be slightly detracted without definite confirmation of the locality it came from (Green River commands the highest prices).
The fish was a freshwater/brackish surface feeding predator (note the upward-protruding jaw) and a member of the herring family, living in the Eocene around 55.8 to 33.8 million years ago.
It’s not possible to tell from your great pictures, but some specimens have missing details painted in (especially the Chinese ones), which also detracts from the value of course.
Often they’re small and relatively inexpensive fossils but, at that impressive size, I’ve seen dealers asking prices just north of $1,000. The value would be slightly detracted without definite confirmation of the locality it came from (Green River commands the highest prices).
The fish was a freshwater/brackish surface feeding predator (note the upward-protruding jaw) and a member of the herring family, living in the Eocene around 55.8 to 33.8 million years ago.
It’s not possible to tell from your great pictures, but some specimens have missing details painted in (especially the Chinese ones), which also detracts from the value of course.
curbdiggercarl57
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Ha! I kept turning it up and down, could figure which way was up. I did take photos both ways.
I know it has a small area missing, but I'll really do a close-up check. I was thinking Green River due to it being found at a shop in Denver, CO.
Thanks for the super quick response!, I'll delve furthur.
Carl
I know it has a small area missing, but I'll really do a close-up check. I was thinking Green River due to it being found at a shop in Denver, CO.
Thanks for the super quick response!, I'll delve furthur.
Carl
curbdiggercarl57
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Right side up correction.
tamrock
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Very unique Green River fossil fish. Yes it's a somewhat rare specimen at the size it is. Can't believe some of the stuff people just donate to a thrift store. It's for that reason why I'm a frequent shopper at the one mans trash is another mans treasure outlets.
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I don't have any info, but it sure is a nice looking fossil.
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