Our little friend pictured here is a diplomystus dentatus. This is the second most common fish in Fossil Lake from where he hails. The highest concentration of articulated fossil fish in the world is located at Fossil Lake, Wyoming. Discovered in the 1870's, Fossil Lake covered almost 930 sq. miles about 50 million years ago, with only 230 sq. miles of sediment now remaining. Still, more than a million perfectly preserved fossil fish have been recovered. Preserved with the fish in the laminated limestone is a complete ancient aquatic ecosystem: cyanobacteria, plants, insects, amphibians, alligators, turtles, birds and mammals, including the oldest pantolestid (otter-like animal).Our little friend has come to us along with about 75 of his closest buddies and all are available for sale from $15.00 to $95.00 here in the Ironstone Museum. According to their discoverer Stuart Grieve, there are several species of fossil fish within these various limestone blocks. Come by and take a look. They are fascinating.
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