Type - Mioplosus & Knightia Fish
Period - Eocene
37 to 53 million years ago
Location - Wyoming, North America
Please note product may differ slightly.
The Green River Formation, located in southwestern Wyoming, is made up of ancient lake beds that once formed a lush, subtropical environment. These calm, mineral-rich waters were the perfect conditions for fossilization.
When fish died, they sank to the bottom of the lake where oxygen levels were low and sediment quickly covered their bodies, helping preserve even the most delicate features like scales, fins and bones!
Unlike many fossil sites where you’re lucky to find a single bone or partial imprint, here you regularly find complete fossils that look as if the fish died only yesterday.
Mioplosus was one of the top predators in the ancient lakes of the Green River Formation. Closely resembling modern-day bass, this fish had a streamlined body, sharp teeth and a fierce predatory nature.
Unlike Knightia or Diplomystus, Mioplosus fossils are usually found alone, likely because they were solitary hunters rather than schooling fish. Their powerful jaws and muscular build suggest they fed on a wide range of smaller fish and aquatic animals.
Learn more about fish fossils from the Green River Formation here - The Green River Formation, Wyoming: A Hotbed Of Fossilised Fish
