NATURAL TREASURES
FOSSIL FISH
(Click on image for enlargement)
The collection of fossil fish displayed on this page represents only a portion of the fossil fish that I collected this summer while in the Kemmerer area of southwestern Wyoming. For a taste of what it's like to dig fossil fish, check out my Virtual Field Trip to Find Fossil Fish.
To experience digging fossil
fish for yourself, click here 
The fossil fish pictured here lived about 50 million years ago in a large lake which is now a part of sediments which make up the Eocene age Green River Formation of southwestern Wyoming. These lake bed sediments consist of laminated limestone that was precipitated out of the calcium-rich water as a result of chemical or ph changes. These ancestors of the modern herring were self-collected and prepared. These fish are natural and not enhanced, and are preserved with Vinac, a clear, acetone-based vinyl acetate. And they are not upside down!
FASH02
FASH02 This 19" x 48" volcanic ash mortality layer from the Thompson Quarry, Kemmerer, Wyoming is backed with Hardibacker board and has a metal bracket to hang on your wall. It displays 12 good Knightia, 1 good Diplomystus, and 8 incomplete fossil fish. This is a one-of-a-kind piece that is sure to make a statement in your home. Remember, price includes domestic shipping.
|
FASH02 |
Ash Layer Mortality Plate SOLD |
$645.00 |
$698.21 |
MASS MORTALITY FOSSIL FISH PLATE
FDIPKNM3
The occurrence of several fish on one layer is uncommon. These fish specimens are well preserved, with good detail. All the fish on FDIPKNM3 are natural (not enhanced). A hanger is attached to the back, so it is ready to hang on the wall.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FDIPKNM3 | Diplo & Knightia Mass Mortality Plate, Diplo at lower left is 6", Knightia at upper left is 3", slab is 13"x18" SOLD | $95.00 | $102.84 |
AMPHIPLAGA BRACHYPTERA
FAMPH2
This species is termed a trout perch because they are morphologically intermediate in many way between trout (or salmon) and the perches. It is somewhat rare in the Green River formation. Piece is free standing.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FAMPH2 | Amphiplaga, fish is 2.7", slab is 4"x6" | $38.00 | $41.14 |
GREEN RIVER POSTER
This
poster artistically depicts the best of the Green River Formation flora and
fauna. Not only is it a fascinating addition to any wall, but a good
reference as well.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FGRFP1 | Green River Formation Poster SOLD OUT |
$14.00 |
$15.16 |
MIOPLOSUS LABRACOIDES
FMIO2
FMIO3
Mioplosus is a rather rare member of the Green River fauna. It was a perch-like fish with a strongly built, long body, similar in appearance to the living perch, Perca. It is recognized by its two dorsal fins. It was a voracious predator, sometimes found with a prey caught in its mouth. These specimens have a stone backing to make them free-standing.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FMIO2 | Mioplosus labracoides, fish is 9", slab is 8"x18" Very nice, complete example centered on matrix SOLD |
$275.00 |
$297.88 |
| FMIO3 | Mioplosus labracoides, fish is 6", slab is 6"x12", price is reduced because parts of tail & dorsal fin are missing |
$85.00 |
$92.01 |
PHAREODUS
FPHS3
FPHS4
This fish is the rather rare Phareodus encaustus, meaning "with teeth" referring to its mouthful of needlelike teeth. It is in the Osteoglossid family, meaning bony tongue, and is survived by the Arawana, a tropical fish sold in tropical fish and pet shops. A piece of stone is cemented to the back to make it free standing.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FPHS3 | Phareodus, fish is 5" long, slab is 6"x8" |
$125.00 |
$135.31 |
| FPHS4 | Phareodus, fish is 5" long, slab is 6.5"x10" SOLD |
$185.00 |
$200.26. |
DIPLOMYSTUS DENTATUS
FDIP02 
FDIP03
These are well preserved examples of Diplomystus dentatus. Its characteristics are a long anal fin and upward-facing, open mouth characteristic of this 50 million year old surface-feeding species, a freshwater herring ancestor from the Green River Formation of Wyoming. The color in these specimens is natural and not enhanced.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FDIP02 | Diplomystus, fish is 4", slab is 3"x7", free standing | $34.00 | $36.81 |
| FDIP03 | Diplomystus, fish is 3", slab is 5"x5", free standing | $30.00 | $32.48 |
KNIGHTIA ALTA
FKNA14 
FKNA15
FKNA21
FKNA22
FKNA24
Knightia alta, ancestor to the herring was the most prolific inhabitant of the ancient, Eocene age "Fossil Lake" near what is now Kemmerer in southwestern Wyoming. The nicely preserved, complete Knightias shown here are from the "split-fish" layers. They have not been enhanced with any colorization, but have been sealed with Vinac, the preservative used by many fossil preparators. They all have a piece of stone cemented to the back to make them free standing.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FKNA14 | Knightia alta stand-up, fish is 5.5",unusually large, slab-6" x 9" | $68.00 | $62.79 |
| FKNA15 | Knightia alta stand-up, fish is 4.6", slab is 4" x 8" | $34.00 | $36.81 |
| FKNA21 | Knightia alta stand-up, fish is 4", slab is 2.5" x 6" | $28.00 | $30.31 |
| FKNA22 | Knightia alta stand-up, fish is 5.2", slab is 4" x9.5" | $34.00 | $36.81 |
| FKNA24 | Knightia alta stand-up, fish is 4.5", slab is 4.5" x8.3" | $38.00 | $41.14 |
KNIGHTIA MULTIPLES
FKNA1M 
FKNE2M
FKNE3M
FKNA4M
FKNE5M 
FDIPKN2M
Sometimes, I split on a layer that contains several fish which were killed by some catastrophic event such as a toxic algae bloom or anoxic bottom water "turning over". It is uncommon to find more than one fish in a group. All specimens are free standing except FKNE5M, which has a hanger on back.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FKNA14M | Knightia alta double, fish is 4", slab is 4"x7", flaw in fish due to small fault displacement | $32.00 | $34.64 |
| FKNE2M | Knightia eocaena group, fish on left is 3.3", slab is 6"x7" SOLD | $32.00 | $34.64 |
| FKNE3M | Knightia eocaena double, fish on top is 3.3", slab is 5"x6" | $36.00 | $38.97 |
| FKNE4M | Knightia eocaena group, fish on right is 3.3", slab is 3"x6.5" | $34.00 | $36.81 |
| FKNE5M | Knightia eocaena group, fish average 3.3", slab is 8"x14", ready to hang on wall SOLD | $75.00 | $81.19 |
| FDIPKN2M | Knightia, Diplomystus group, Knightia in center is 4.5", Diplo underneath is 3.4" est. slab is 5"x14" SOLD | $75.00 | $81.19 |
KNIGHTIA ALTA SPLIT PAIR
FKNAP1
FKNAP2
As you can see by visiting the Virtual Field Trip, these fish are found by splitting the rock along its sedimentary layers with a hammer and chisel. FKNAP1 and FKNAP2 are specimens of one Knightia alta that were split down the middle so the left and right pieces are the part and counter part of the same fish. This does not happen often. Each piece has a stone support on the back to make it free standing. The price is for both pieces.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FKNAP1 | Knightia alta pair standup SOLD | $45.00 | $48.71 |
| FKNAP2 | Knightia alta pair SOLD | $55.00 | $59.54 |
KNIGHTIA EOCAENA
FKNE5
FKNE6
FKNE5 This is a good specimen of the fossil herring ancestor, Knightia eocaena, very similar to Knightia alta but differing in that it has a thinner body and does not ordinarily grow as large as the Knightia alta. The slab has a stone back to make it free standing.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FKNE5 | Knightia eocaena, fish is 3.1", slab is 4" x 5" | $26.00 | $28.15 |
| FKNE6 | Knightia eocaena, fish is 3", slab is 2.5" x 6" | $26.00 | $30.31 |
FISH FROM THE "18 INCH LAYER"
DIPLOMYSTUS DENTATUS
F18DIP2
F18DIP3
PRISCACARA LIOPS KNIGHTIA EOCAENA
F18PRL1
F18PRL2 
F18KE1
The fossil fish shown above, are estimated to be 50 million years old, from the Eocene Epoch. These fish are from the famous 18" Layer in which the fish are harder, darker, and much more detailed than the other Green River fish, which are from the split-fish layers. The darker color is from the rich kerogen content in the rock caused by the anaerobic conditions existing during deposition and fossilization. In fact, if you scratch the rock and sniff, it smells like a high-sulfur petroleum.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| F18DIP2 | Diplomystus-17" long, with Knightia eocaena- 5.3" long, slab is 26x16" SOLD |
$550.00 |
$595.38 |
| F18DIP3 | Diplomystus, fish is 5.8", slab is 7"x10" SOLD | $75.00 | $81.19 |
| F18PRL1 | Priscacara, fish is 4.8", slab is 6"x11" | $140.00 | $151.55 |
| F18PRL2 | Priscacara, fish is 5.5", slab is 6.8"x9.5" | $160.00 | $173.20 |
| F18KE1 | Knightia eocaena, fish is 5", slab is 6"x6.5" | $60.00 | $64.95 |
PARTIALS
FPRT1L, FPRT1M, FPRT1R FPRT2L, FPRT2M, FPRT2R FPRT3L, FPRT3M, FPRT3R
These Green River fossil fish are termed "Partials", since they are missing parts and are incomplete. For this reason, they are unacceptable to the collector and less valuable to the collector, but amazing to the young or student paleontologist. Also, they are very reasonably priced. Remember- shipping is included.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| FPRT1L | Partial fish on Left, Photo 1 SOLD | $8.00 | $8.66 |
| FPRT1M | Partial fish in Middle, Photo 1 SOLD | $6.00 | $6.50 |
| FPRT1R | Partial fish on Right, Photo 1 SOLD | $7.00 | $7.58 |
| FPRT2L | Partial fish on Left, SOLD | $7.00 | $7.58 |
| FPRT2M | Partial fish in Middle, SOLD | $6.00 | $6.50 |
| FPRT2R | Partial fish on Right, SOLD | $7.00 | $7.58 |
| FPRT3L | Partial fish on Left, Photo 3 | $9.00 | $7.58 |
| FPRT3M | Partial fish in Middle, Photo 3 | $6.00 | $6.50 |
| FPRT2R | Partial fish on Right, Photo 3 | $6.00 | $6.50 |
FOSSIL FISH FROM CHINA- LYCOPTERA DAVIDII
CFFL1 
CFFL2 
CFFK3
These are Cretaceous aged (120 million years ago) fossil fish from Liao Ling, Manchuria, China. They are primitive osteoglossomorph teleosts, with boney skeletons and are related to the Phareodus one finds in the Green River formation.
| Item # | Description | Price (no tax) | Price (w/tax TX res) |
| CFFL1 | Lycoptera davidii fossil fish | $6.00 | $6.50 |
| CFFL2 | Lycoptera davidii fossil fish SOLD | $8.00 | $8.66 |
| CFFK3 | Lycoptera davidii fossil fish SOLD | $12.00 | $12.99 |
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