North America, Wyoming, Lincoln County, Green River Formation, Eocene Period, ca. 56 to 33 million years ago. A fantastic and well-preserved fossilized fish in a stone matrix. The fish is Phareodus encaustus, a prehistoric freshwater species that swam throughout North America, with related species in Europe and Australia. This was a predatory fish, and the teeth on this specimen are on full display! The jaw is slightly open and the rows of needle-like teeth were ideal for feeding upon smaller species, like prehistoric Knightia. A great amount of detail is preserved, including the spine and feathery fins. The matrix is a lighter color, and the fossil has been professionally prepared with the nearly black surface to contrast and highlight the preserved organic material. The verso of the matrix has a portion of a second fish fossil as well! Size: 9" L x 6.3" W (22.9 cm x 16 cm)
Display stand shown in photos is for photography purposes only.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#164000
Condition
Professionally prepared with darker pigments added for contrast. Small cavity in matrix surface near tail. Fossil is intact and very good. Label on verso.