Detailed 5.25" Priscacara From 18 Inch Layer

Detailed Priscacara From Inch Layer #12140

This is a gorgeous 5 1/4 inch long Cockerellites liops perfectly centered on a solid 15 1/4 x 12 1/4 inch, rectangularly cut slab of matrix. It was quarried from the 18 inch layer of Warfield's Quarry near Kemmerer, WY over a decade ago and recently prepared. The 18 inch layer produces higher quality fish fossils than the split fish layers but they take significantly more preparation time. The details on this beautiful fish can easily be seen including the fins, scales, and backbone. It comes with a display stand or also would look great in a frame.

Cockerellites liops is a species of extinct temperate bass found in the Eocene aged Green River Formation of Wyoming. It is characterized by a sunfish-like body and its stout dorsal and anal spines. It was originally placed in the Priscacara genus but was moved to the newly created genus Cockerellites by D. Jordan and H. Hanibal in 1923. There is still some debate among researchers about whether this new genus is valid.

Cockerellites is found in large numbers in mid-lake deposits, representing 5 to 20 percent of the fish unearthed, depending on the layer. It is considerably rarer in shoreline deposits, representing only 1 to 2 percent of the fish found. Because of this, Cockerellites is thought to have been a schooling fish. Fossils have been found at a maximum size of about six inches, but they rarely exceed five inches in length.

At first glance, Cockerellites liops has a very similar appearance to the rarer species Priscacara. Size can often be used as a differentiator, since Cockerellites did not exceed 6 inches while Priscacara serrata is typically found in excess of 6 inches. Cockerellites also has more dorsal and anal fin rays than Priscacara and a much smaller mouth.

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