Green River Fish

We've been fishing! In case you missed out on our previous fish sale, pick up one of these fine fossil fish. The fossil fish for sale here are from the Eocene Period of the Green River Formation located in Southwestern Wyoming. To learn more about the Eocene and other Geologic Periods, click to check out our Geologic Time Chart.

Knightia (knightia sp.) - The Knightia is an ancestor of the modern herring. It is the most common of the fish species found in the sedimentary layers (some up to 2,000 feet deep) of the Green River Formation that were deposited in the Green River Lake System of western Wyoming, eastern Utah and northwestern Colorado.

Diplomystus - Related to the Knightia, but may be somewhat larger. Fossil remains of this fish are rarely found in large groups, indicating that they may not have had the schooling behavior of the Knightia. The unique mouth structure of the Diplomystus appears to have been designed to feed on small animals and plants near the surface.

An important note: The dark, shiny areas on the specimens below are actual petrified skin or bone rather than the imprint left as the fish decayed and was replaced by mineralization. These fish have been professionally prepared and restored.