Fish plate (1) Priscacara liops

Age: Eocene (50m years old)

Fossil site: Green river Formation, Wyoming, USA

Description: This fossil comes from the world famous Laggerstatten Green river in the USA. The site produces a large extent of sift tissue preservation as evidence in this fish. Priscacara, meaning "Primitive head", is shaped rather like a sun fish, it has sturdy protective dorsal spines, probably to stop to being swallowed from the rear. The preservation here is superb, with an impression of the scales and the dark body is a wonderful counterpoint to the light matrix. Piscacara appears to have no living relatives. During the Eocene the region was sub tropical to temperate.

Fossil: 28cm x 22cm
Frame: 55.5cm x 47cm
Weight: 7.2kg