FOSSIL FISH ASPIRATION. Mioplosus labracoides with Knightia eocaena. Eocene. Green River Formation. Wyoming...

Description

FOSSIL FISH ASPIRATION
Mioplosus labracoides with Knightia eocaena
Eocene
Green River Formation
Wyoming

Even though fossilized fish are relatively common in the fossil record, aspirations of one fish swallowing and choking on another fish are an extremely rare occurrence. In this circumstance, a larger predatory fish attempts to swallow a smaller prey fish that ends up being too large which ends up getting stuck in its throat. The predator in this scenario was a Mioplosus, similar to the modern-day perch. The prey involved in this struggle was a Knightia, similar to the modern-day herring, which also happens to be the "state fossil" of Wyoming and most commonly excavated fossil fish in the world. The fish locked in this duel measure 7.25 inches (18.42 cm) from tail to tail with the larger predaceous fish measuring a full 6 inches (15.24 cm) long. This piece is quite representative of the classic Green River material, and the shale matrix rock in which these fish are preserved measures 10 x 5.25 inches (25.40 x 13.34 cm).

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