Ultra Rare Near Perfect Asineops Fossil Fish Superb Green River Fm Wyoming COA

Description

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this specimen.
Here is a rare fossil fish Asineops Squamifrons, from the world-famous fossil beds of Fossil Lake, Green River Formation, Wyoming. From the Eocene, about 52 million years ago.  The asineops has a rounded tail fin. If a fish is described as an asineops without the rounded tail fin, it is not an asineops.
How rare is it?
Rare: It is from an old find.  We took this to Fossil Butte Monument near Kemmerer, Wyoming, and showed this fossil to experts in the field. It is from the Fossil Lake-Lake Gosiute fossil beds from the Eocene. Likely from a "capping" layer in the 18 Inch Layer of Fossil Lake.  Some capping layers are quite dark, containing oil and different minerals.
Rare: Asineops in virtually perfect condition are very rare and almost impossible to come by.
Extremely Rare: It's an Asineops, and in excellent, nearly perfect condition. In his masterful 2013 book "The Lost World of Fossil Lake", Lance Grande of the University of Chicago wrote that Asineops were "Rare in the FBM (Fossil Butte Member)", estimating 30+ have ever been found in Fossil Lake, although more have been found in the Laney Member of Lake Gosiute. Even with more having been found since 2013, they are still a very rare fish.  And most of them are in far less pristine condition than this one.
Its large mouth is showing off its sharp teeth, which you can see in the enlarged photo.
The Asineops has been coated with a clear protectant, standard procedure, to keep its many tiny bones, fins and rays from being damaged.  Some experts speculated that possibly the protectant brought out the silver color.  In some areas, such as some of the caudal fin rays, the coloration is black. Enlarge the photos and see for yourself.
The Asineops measures about 7.7 cm. in length (3.03"). The plate which is quite dark, is about 11.9 cm. by 13 cm. (4.7" by 5.1"), and it weighs 457 grams (1 lb. 0.1 oz.).
It is not a large Asineops, but it is so nearly perfectly preserved, with skull and vertebrae, other bones, fins and rays, etc. all just absolutely outstanding. It is the finest Asineops I have ever seen.
We are happy to enclose a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) upon request.
Some words of caution about COA’s: Do not let them become a substitute for learning about the fossils. We have been working with fossils for many years, and we have seen hundreds of very nice-looking COA’s, some that are flat-out wrong, mis-describing a specimen. In addition, the person selling the item is usually the one who writes the COA (potential conflict of interest). Finally, a COA without a photo of the exact item described, tied to the COA, is worthless, as it can later be placed next to any fish fossil.
We suggest that instead of relying on a COA, that people read and study the subject. Two top-quality books, both written by Lance Grande of the University of Chicago, are masterful sources of information on Green River Formation fossils. One is Paleontology of the Green River Formation, 1984. The other, The Lost World of Fossil Lake, written in 2013, is less detailed but loaded with excellent photos.
Learn and study about what you are buying, and soon you will find you will be able to easily identify the fish yourself.
We cordially invite you to visit our store, and see items and fossils ranging from budget to world-class.
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COMBINED SHIPPING: We will do our best to combine purchases to save shipping costs. In some cases, that is easy, in some cases not so much. If you buy multiple pieces, and pay for them, we will combine shipping
anywhere we can, and we will refund the shipping overage you paid back into your Paypal account.
We will ship this only to the United States.  We are not responsible if the buyer reships it somewhere else, after receiving it from us. Our responsibility ends at the destination we ship it to.
Return Policy:   If you are not satisfied with your item, please contact us within 72 hours of receiving the item.  We'll refund your purchase price, minus shipping charges, upon safe return of the item in original condition (item cannot be altered or damaged) within 14 days of buyer’s receipt of item. Failure to contact us within 72 hours of receipt of item, voids this offer. Buyer is responsible for all return shipping charges.   Item must arrive to us in same condition as buyer received it (check photos in original description), or the return offer is voided.
Damage:   If your item arrives damaged, please contact us within 24 hours of receiving as we will be happy to resolve any issue.  Buyer must contact us within 24 hours of receipt of item to claim damage in shipping.
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