Finding a 50 million year old fish!
A fossil dig
29.07.2023 - 29.07.2023
85 °F
Although we haven't traveled much lately, we've been enjoying some fun around Wyoming! Everything from Rodeos to "Fishing"
Just a few weeks ago we had a great adventure ... a fossil dig and a visit to Fossil Butte National Monument near Kemmerer, WY
Most people don't know that millions of years ago there was an inland "ocean" nearby.
And buried in the remnants of this old body of water are some incredible finds ... even a fossil of a crocodile!
While we weren't able to find anything that huge, we did "dig up" a 50 million old fish and learned it's a Priscacara serrata -
I did an AI search and here's what I now know about this amazing find!
- Physical Description: Priscacara serrata had a deep, oval body with protective dorsal and anal spines. It had a large mouth with an impressive array of teeth and a fan-shaped tail. Its lower jaw was slightly upturned and protruded
- Habitat: Priscacara serrata is best known from the Green River Formation of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. This formation is famous for its well-preserved fossils from the Eocene Era, which is approximately 50 million years old
- Behavior: Mass deaths of Priscacara suggest that it formed schools. This behavior is common among many fish species and can provide protection against predators.
- Size: Fossils of Priscacara serrata have been found in various sizes. For example, there is a specimen that measures a huge 10.6 inches long (Our fish was about that big!)
- Relation to Sunfish: Priscacara serrata is considered an ancestor of today's sunfish.
Our thanks to the folks at In Stone Fossils in Kemmerer who restored our FIND! When we first found our fish you could only see a portion and the rest was buried in quarry stone. If ever in the area be sure to stop in their shop ... it's like traveling back to the Eocene Era!
Posted by Where2FromHere 20:12 Archived in USA Tagged priscacara serrata Comments (0)