Natural History - Fossil Leaf Group

With a shoal of Knightia alta sp. specimens, some preserved on top of each other, on an irregular matrix; mounted on plywood backing. 42.9 kg, 117 cm wide



From Wyoming (Green River Formation), USA. Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman.

In southwest Wyoming (and parts of Colorado and Utah) in the Green River Formation are found some of the world's most outstanding specimens of fossil fish. The Green River system was composed of three lakes: Lake Ulinta, Lake Gosiute and Fossil Lake. These Eocene lakes lay in a series of intermountain basins formed by geological events that uplifted the Rocky Mountains during the early Tertiary time. The climate was much different from the desert-like climate of this area today. Both the fauna (crocodiles, alligators, boa constrictors and some subtropical fish families) and the flora (such as large palm trees) indicate a climate much like that found along the Gulf Coast today. Large amounts of ash found in the sediments indicate that volcanoes were particularly active at this time.

Comprising of Prognathodon sp. tooth with root on a sandstone matrix. 168 grams, 10 cm



From in the phosphate mine region, Khouribga, Morocco, North Africa. From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

The Mosasaur is an extinct, large marine reptile dinosaur with a snake-like body, long snout and paddle-like limbs. Found worldwide, they competed with other well-known sea predators of the Late Cretaceous, such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs, for food, existing primarily on a diet of ammonoids, cuttlefish and fish.

A section of rib from the cave bear Ursus spelaeus. 55 grams, 13.8 cm



From Romania. Acquired during 1980s. From an old Bristol collection.

Ursus spelaeus became extinct at the beginning of the last glacial maximum, roughly 27,500 years ago.