Natural History - English Fossil Crab Group

A fossil Diplomystus sp. fish in a matrix. 500 grams, 16.5 x 11.7 cm



From the Green River Formation, Lincoln County, Wyoming, U.S.A. From an old Lincoln, UK, collection.

Seasonally, some 56 million years ago, in the Green River Region of Wyoming, torrential rains fell on the mountains. The rain flowed down the mountain sides, forming wide shallow lakes in the valley below. During the dry season, these lakes evaporated (similar to certain parts of Africa today). Millions of fish died in this short period of time. This climatic cycle happened over a 20-thousand-year period. Layer upon layer of mud was deposited over these years, entombing huge numbers of fish. At a much later date volcanic activity uplifted this area to expose their fossils.

A fossil Mosasaur sp. displaying the skull with at least 33 teeth surviving in the upper and lower jaw, many with remains of enamel, alongside the remains of at least 15 of the animal's vertebrae; a juvenile on a sedimentary matrix wrapped in a plaster field jacket. 19.7 kg, 62 cm wide



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11722-197505.

Mosasaurs (from the Greek for 'lizard') were aquatic dinosaurs which probably gave birth to live young.

A mixed group of 100 polished mineral 'pebbles'. 1 kg total, 20-34 mm



Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's).