PALM FROND WITH FISH

PALM FROND WITH FISH
GREEN RIVER FORMATION, WYOMING, UNITED STATES

Sabalites sp., and Diplomystus dentatus (23 x 12 x 18 cm), Cenozoic, Eocene (53-33 million years ago).

50 million years ago, the climate in what is now south western Wyoming was comparable to that of present-day Florida. The entire region was a veritable paradise for turtles, fish, crocodiles, and other aquatic species. The land was covered in lush vegetation, brilliantly illustrated by this spectacular fossilized palm frond, representative of the superb primitive flora of the Eocene period. The palm frond is surrounded by a handful of fish, including a large Diplomystus dentatus, and all were naturally fossilized together where they fell onto the seabed. The frond of the palm is naturally open in all of its splendor, preserving its fine end points. It is very rare to find an intact fossilized palm frond due to their fragility; as such, very few examples of this size and quality have been uncovered. A classic preparation in very fine condition.

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