RARE FOSSIL FISH ASPIRATION
Diplomystus dentatus, Knightia eocaena
Eocene
Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming
This unfortunate Diplomystus was attempting to dine on a small Knightia in the waters of the Green River lake system when he choked to death before completing what turned out to be his final meal. The smaller fish protrudes 3½ inches from the mouth of the 7 1/2 inch long Diplo, and was clearly too big of a mouthful for the voracious predator. This unusual arrangement, of one fish in the process of swallowing another, is known as an aspiration. They are extremely rare to find, but count as some of the most sought-after fossils, preserving as they do a vivid moment in the ecosystem of 35-50 million years ago. The fossils here show the fine detail typical of the locality, both in a rich brown color contrasting dramatically with the creamy white of the 5 7/8 x 13 inch limestone matrix.