Fish plate (2) Priscacara liops

Age: Eocene (50m years old)

Fossil site: Green river Formation, Wyoming, USA

Description: These fossils come from the world famous Laggerstatten, Green river. The site produced a large extent of sort tissue preservation as evidenced in these fish. Priscacara, meaning 'Primitive head', is shaped rather like a sun-fish; it has sturdy protective dorsal spines, probably to stop it 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. Priscacara appears to have no living relatives. During the Eocene the region was sub tropical to temperate.

Fossil:38cm x 44cm
Frame:47cm x 52cm
Weight:9.9kg