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Showing results for tags 'green river formation'.
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References: Fossil Butte National Monument Geologic Resources Inventory Report, NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2012/587 Grande, L. (1984) PALEONTOLOGY OF THE GREEN RIVER FORMATION, WITH A REVIEW OF THE FISH FAUNA. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING, BULLETIN 63.
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Taxonomy from Grande & Bemis 1998. Diagnosis from Grande & Bemis 1998, p. 247: "†Cyclurus gurleyi differs from all other species of the genus by the following adult characters A through D. (A) The body is relatively short and deep, deeper than known for any other amiine and most other amiid species. Body depth of adult sized individuals (e.g., specimens over 120 mm SL) is 35-42% of SL (Table 62), compared to 27-32% for †C. kehreri (Table 52); 19-21% for †C. efremovi (Table 72); 20% for †C. valenciennesi; 30-31% for †C. ignotus; 24-27% for †C. macrocephalus; 18-29% for Amia (Tables 3, 22, 42); 16-23% for † vidalamiines (Tables 82, 102, 112); 18- 23% for †Solnhofenamia gen. nov. (Table 122). (B) The possession of relatively numerous premaxillary teeth, more numerous than in any other amiid (nine to 12, Table 64, versus eight to nine in †C. kehreri, Table 54; seven to nine in †C. efremovi, Table 74; eight in †C. fragosus; eight to nine in †C. macrocephalus; six to eight in Amia, Tables 5, 24, 44; five to six in †Vidalamiinae subfam. nov., Tables 84, 104, 114; five to six in †Solnhofenamia gen. nov., Table 124; five to six in †Amiopsinae subfam. nov., Tables 134, 144, 154, 164). (C) The gular is relatively shorter than in any other species of †Cyclurus (gular length is 32-33% of head length, Table 60, compared to 36-38% of head length in adult †C kehreri, Table 50; 37-40% in †C efremovi, Table 70; and 39% in †C. valenciennesi). (D) There are more dorsal fin rays and dorsal proximal radials in this species than in any other species of †Cyclurus (44-46 segmented dorsal rays and 44-47 dorsal proximal radials, Table 68, compared to 36-39 segmented rays and 37-38 proximal radials in †C kehreri, Table 58; 41 segmented rays and 41 proximal radials in †C. efremovi, Table 78; 39-40 proximal radials in †C. macrocephalus; 39 segmented rays and 38 proximal radials in †C oligocenicus; 38 proximal radials in †C. ignotus). Identified by oilshale using Grande & Bemis 1998. References: Grande, L., & Bemis, W. E. (1998). A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Study of Amiid Fishes (Amiidae) Based on Comparative Skeletal Anatomy. an Empirical Search for Interconnected Patterns of Natural History. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(sup001), 1–696. doi:10.1080/02724634.1998.1001111 Grande, L. (2001) An updated review of the fish faunas from the Green River Formation, the world's most productive freshwater Lagerstaetten. In Eocene biodiversity., unusual occurrences and rarely sampled habitats. Gunell, Gregg F., eds, Topics in Geobiology, Vol 18, p. 1-38.
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Taxonomy from Fossilworks.org. Revised generic diagnosis from Grande and Grande 2008, p. 10. "†Notogoneus differs from all other genera in the family Gonorynchidae by the following characters: (1) the subopercle bears a series of deep clefts along its posterior margin; (2) the first and second hypurals are not fused to each other; (3) the parhypural is not fused to the vertebral column; (4) the first and second hypurals are not fused to the vertebral column; and (5) scales in adults are nearly the length of a centrum. Also, the frontal is a paired element in †Notogoneus (vs. median in Gonorynchus)." Line drawing from Grande & Grande 2008, p. 4: References: Cope, E. D. (1885) Eocene paddle-fish and Gonorhynchidae. American Naturalist, 19:1090–1091. Woodward, A. S. (1901) Catalogue of Fossil Fishes in the British Museum (Natural History), Part IV 1-63. Hay, O. P. (1902) Bibliography and Catalogue of the Fossil Vertebrata of North America. Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey 179:1-868. Grande, L. and Grande, T. (2008) Redescription of the type species for the genus Notogeneus (Teleostei: Gonorhynchidae) based on new, well-preserved material. The Paleontological Society Memoir 70:1-31 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
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References: L. Grande and T. Grande (2008) Redescription of the type species for the genus Notogeneus (Teleostei: Gonorhynchidae) based on new, well preserved material. The Paleontological Society Memoir 70:1-31 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen].
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Grande distinguishes two forms of Hypsiprisca: Hypsiprisca hypsacantha (originally described by Cope in 1886 under the name Priscacara hypsacantha) and a second yet undescribed, closely related form Hypsiprisca sp. H. sp. is more common than H. hypsacantha; H. sp. are mostly very small individuals less than 60mm long. Quotation L. Grande (2013): "The second species that remains undescribed differs from H. hypsacantha in being more slender-bodied and having a more convex posterior tail fin margin (H. hypsacantha has a very slightly forked tail margin)." References: Whitlock, J. (2010) Phylogenetic relationships of the Eocene percomorph fishes †Priscacara and †Mioplosus Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Volume 30 – Issue 4, pages 1037-1048. Grande, L. T (2013) The Lost World of Fossil Lake: Snapshots from Deep Time. University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 13: 978-0-226-92296-6.
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The Mioplosus is an extinct genus of Percid fish that lived from the early to middle Eocene. These fish were predators in Fossil Lake's large ecosystem.
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Priscacara Serrata is one of several species of recognized in the Green River formation. It is less common that its relative the Priacacara Liops.
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Astephus and Hypsidoris are both members of the Family Ictaluridae, native to North America. Green River catfish are easily recognized by their stout dorsal and pectoral spines, scale less bodies and broad skull. Ictalurid species have four pairs of barbels (or whiskers). Like modern catfish, they possessed a vibration sensitive organ called the Weberian apparatus. The Weberian apparatus consists out of specialized vertebrae at the front of the spinal column which passed vibrations to the inner ear using the swim bladder as a resonance chamber. The structure essentially acts as an amplifier of sound waves that would otherwise be only slightly perceivable by the inner ear structure alone. Normal size of Astephus is around 15cm and rarely exceeds 18cm, maximum total length is about 30cm. Hypsidoris seems to be in the same size range. The diet of Green River catfish was probably similar to existing ictalurids consisting of plants, small fish, crayfish and mollusks. Astephus and Hypsidoris were probably bottom feeders. Astephus antiquus is unknown as a body fossil in the middle unit of Fossil Butte Member, and only one specimen has been found in all of Fossil Lake, although it is abundant in Lake Gosiute strata. The discovery of numerous and widespread fossil catfish in oil shale units of the Laney Member of the Eocene Green River Formation is evidence of aerobic conditions in the hypolimnic waters of ancient Lake Gosiute. Hypsidoris farsonensis has only been found in Lake Gosiute deposits of the Green River Formation, east of Fossil Lake. References: Grande, L. and J. G. Lundberg (1988) Revision and redescription of the genus Astephus (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) with a discussion of its phylogenetic relationships. J. Vert. Paleont 8:139–171. Grande, L. (1987) Redescription of Hypsidoris farsonensis (Teleostei: Siluriformes), with a reassessment of its phylogenetic relationships. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 7:24–54. Grande, L. and de Pinna, M. C. C. (1998) Description of a second species of the catfish Hypsidoris and a reevaluation of the genus and the family Hypsidoridae. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18:451–474.
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Characteristic for Massilosteus is the - for a Lepisosteiformes - extremely short snout. References: Grande, L., Kammerer, Ch. & Westneat, M. (2006) Comparative and Developmental Functional Morphology of the Jaws of Living and Fossil Gars. Journal of Morphology, Vol 267, Issue 9, 1017-1031. Grande, L. (2010) An Empirical Synthetic Pattern Study of Gars (Lepisosteiformes) and closely related Species, based mostly on Skeletal Anatomy. The Resurrection of Holostei. Copeia, 2010, No 2A, 1-863.
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References: John A. Whitlock (2010) Phylogenetic relationships of the Eocene percomorph fishes Priscacara and Mioplosus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(4):1037–1048. Lance Grande (2013) The Lost World of Fossil Lake: Snapshots from Deep Time. Edition: 1 Publisher: University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 13: 978-0-226-92296-6.
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Today, the family Hiodontidae is represented by two species and a single genus (Hiodon) restricted to North America. They are large-eyed, fork-tailed fish that physically resemble shads. The “goldeye”, Hiodon alosoides, is widespread across Nord America. It prefers turbid slower-moving waters of lakes and rivers. The mooneye, Hiodon tergisus, is also widespread across North America, living in the clear waters of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Hiodontids feed mainly on insects, insect larvae, and a few small fish. The fossil genus Eohiodon was set up by Cavender in 1966 based on a review of Leuciscus rosei by Hussakof. Since then, three additional species have been included in this genus: Eohiodon rosei is the type species and known from the Tranquille beds near Kamloops, the Horsefly beds near Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada and the Allenby Formation near Princeton. Eohiodon woodruffi Wilson 1978 is known from the Klondike Mountain Formation near Republic, Washington and the Horsefly beds near Horsefly, British Columbia. Eohiodon falcatus Grande 1978 has been found from the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation, Lincoln County, Wyoming, USA. Recent study by Li, Wilson, and Grande, 1997 of new specimen of both Eohiodon falcatus and Eohiodon woodruffi indicates that the two specimens are indistinguishable in the vast majority of characters; Eohiodon falcatus might be treated as a junior synonym of Eohiodon woodruffi. In their 2008 paper Grande & Hilton reassessed the Hiodontidae and concluded: " After correcting the descriptions of the fossil taxa, we could find no valid synapomorphies to separate the genus †Eohiodon from the genus Hiodon. Therefore, we conclude that †Eohiodon should be regarded as a synonym of Hiodon." References: Hilton, E. & Grande, L.: Fossil Mooneyes (Teleostei: Hiodontiformes, Hiodontidae) from the Eocene of western North America, with a reassessment of their taxonomy. In: CAVIN, L., LONGBOTTOM, A. & RICHTER, M. (eds) Fishes and the Break-up of Pangaea. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 295, 221–251. DOI: 10.1144/SP295.13 Grande, L. (1979): Eohiodon falcatus, a new species of hiodontid (Pisces) from the late early Eocene Green River Formation of Wyoming. Journal of Paleontology, 53:103-111. Wilson, M. V. H. (1978): Eohiodon woodruffi n. sp. (Teleostei, Hiodontidae) from the middle Eocene Klondike Mountain Formation near Republic, Washington. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 15:679-686. Cavender, T. (1966): Systematic position of the North American Eocene fish, "Leuciscus" rosei Hussakof. Copeia, 1966:311-320.
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Amphiplaga is one of the rarer of the Green River fish fossils, making up some 1% of the total from Fossil Lake, its only known location. Amphiplaga belongs to the family Percopsidae within the order Percopsiformes. The Order Percopsiformes is a small order of North American freshwater fishes that includes three families: Amblyopsidae (cavefishes); Aphredoderidae (pirate perches); and Percopsidae (trout-perches). Closely related to neither trout nor perch, trout-perches have characteristics of both the trout and perch families. They exhibit characters of the salmonids, such as an adipose fin, cycloid scales, and soft fin rays, as well as characters of the percids, such as dorsal and anal fin spines, and ctenoid scales. Trout-perch are generally silvery in appearance, often with a partially transparent appearance, and relatively large heads and eyes. They are small fish with weak fin spines, and an adipose fin similar to those of trouts. Amphiplaga grew to as much as 150 mm. long; the average length was 100 mm. They feed on insects and small crustaceans. Fossil percopsids are only known from North America, the current home of the extant genus Percopsis. References: Grande, L. (1984): PALEONTOLOGY OF THE GREEN RIVER FORMATION, WITH A REVIEW OF THE FISH FAUNA. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WYOMING, BULLETIN 63
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This amazing shrimp is from my quarry in the Green River Formation near Kemmerer Wyoming. This fossil was found in 2015.
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Unknown Green River Fm fossil. Parachute Creek Member. Douglas Pass Colorado. Specimen is about 1/2 in long. In over a decade of collecting, I have found 2 of these.
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Thanks to FossilDudeCO I got to try my hand at prepping a fish. I've got almost 7 hours in hand chipping this guy out of the rock. I didn't think it would be buried quite as deeply as it was or I might have turned to a power tool. I know it isn't at all impressive to those of you who know what you're doing or those with rare fish. That's ok. I just want to say thanks for the opportunity and let anyone who might have an interest know: you can do it!
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I have had to sit on this for a while but can now let the cat out of the bag. One of the coolest things I have ever had the opportunity to work on. It was such an honor to work on this little guy. Protorohippus venticolum (Alternative combinations: Eohippus venticolus, Hyracotherium venticolum, Protorohippus venticolus) Early Eocene Fossil Lake, Kemmerer, Wyoming This is one of the world’s most rare and complete fossil skeleton of one of the world’s oldest horses. This is an amazingly complete skeleton with the only restoration being to the pelvis and upper femur bones. The skull is 100% natural and in extremely beautiful condition. This amazing fossil named “Olive” after the Oliver Brothers Mark and Mike who discovered it,is an extremely rare example of a Protorohippus venticolum fossil, dating back 52 million years from the Eocene period in Wyoming, and is one of only two complete examples of this fossil ever discovered. It is approximately two feet long and 12 inches tall at the shoulder; with an overall size of the fossil plate at about 30” x 28” x 4” thick and includes a single fossilized fish that is intricately contacting the skeleton. . It was excavated from a fossil Lake quarry by Seth Sorensen of Fossil Shack, Brock Sisson of Fossilogic and one of our affiliates, Jason Cooper, earlier this year. In early Spring of 2015, The Oliver Brothers and their family were digging in a fossil fish quarry near Kemmerer Wyoming when they came across a fossil that looked very unusual. They called over their quarry neighbors, Seth, Brock, and Jason from the Fossil Shack Quarry. They looked at the fossil and immediately knew it was something special. The bones that had been exposed had an astragalus (talus) bone, which during the Eocene was only present on a few limited species such as horses and camels. After discussion with the Oliver brothers, it was decided that Seth, Brock, and Jason should professionally remove the fossil. Over the next several hours, the three painstakingly excavated the horse, finding small pieces, no more than a few millimeters across, which had already fallen down the hill. Upon initial inspection, it was believed that the stones containing the bones held only a partial skeleton. It was assumed that there was no skull and that the total of bones equaled only about 1/3 of a complete animal. I am the one in the Green/gray shirt. Yes, that is my chisel with the hello kitty handle. Lol Once the stone was removed from the hillside, it was taken back and X-Rayed. At this time it was discovered that the animal was amazingly complete, including the skull and all four feet. It was only missing a small section of the pelvis. This ended up being one of the most incredible discoveries to ever come out of the Green River formation. The first name given to this species was Hyracotherium in 1841, given to a fragmented specimen discovery by Richard Owen. Owen lacked many important parts of the skeleton with his find, and based mainly on the fossil teeth alone, named the animal Hyracotherium, which means “hyrax-like beast”. In 1876 Othniel Marsh found a much more complete specimen which he named Eohippus meaning “dawn horse”. The two fossils were not connected for many years. When they were, and following standard scientific naming conventions, the earliest name became the accepted scientific name. Recently, many paleontologists have concluded that the genus Hyracotherium needed to be parsed into separate genera…separating animals that preceded jungle ungulates like the rhinoceros, from those that were part of the horse evolutionary chain. This fantastic Horse is part of the latter group, and as a result, future scientific work on this animal will be classified against the name Protorohippus venticolum. Hope you all enjoy.
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