Fossilized Fish + Prey

This large predatory Fossilized Prehistoric Fish + Prey is a preserved fish swallowing a small, spiny fish. It's truly remarkable that this dynamic ecological event, known as an “aspiration,” was frozen in time for millions of years! In addition to the tail of the smaller fish protruding from the predator's mouth, its small spines and other bones are visible deeper inside the stomach of its captor.

The larger fish, Diplomystus dentatus, is related to modern day herrings. Its distinctive upturned mouth was well suited to nab small surface fish. The smaller fish, Cockerellites liops, is related to modern bass.

This is a valuable specimen with significant scientific importance. Aspirations are rare to begin with and, moreover, an aesthetic and clearly discernible example is rarer still. In this beautiful piece, the earthy brown bones of the fish stand out in striking contrast to the light, banded stone matrix.

These fish swam in ancient Eocene freshwater lakes in Wyoming, USA, 50 million years ago. They were discovered in the famous Green River Formation, which is known to produce some of the most spectacular vertebrate fossils in the world. Hours of painstaking work by a professional fossil preparator were needed to uncover the fine bones, fins and intricate details to ultimately bring these ancient fish to life.