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Tynsky's Common Fossils

Phareodus
There are two species of phareodus, the encaustus and the testis. Many sharp teeth indicate that this fish was a piscavore (fish eater). Remains of mioplosus and priscacara are often found in their stomachs. The long shoulder fin of adults can extend for a third of their length. They get up to 30” in length.

Diplomystus
Only one species has been found. They preyed on small fish at the surface of the lake. Knightia bones have been found in this fossil’s stomach and mouth. They have been found up to 26” in length.

 Knightia
There are two species of this fossil fish, eocaena and alta. This fish is related to the modern day herring family. A mass die-off of millions of these fish has been recorded. They grew up to 10” in length.

 Notogoneus
Most likely they fed on plants and decaying animals on the lake bottom. Few young have been found in Fossil Lake, suggesting that it spawned in streams and its young developed there. They are found up to 36” in length.

Mioplosus
This voracious predator with many sharp teeth has been found fossilized in the act of swallowing knightia half its length. Mioplosus get up to 20” in length.

Priscacara
Three species have been found, the liops, hypsacantha and serrata. They fed mostly on snails and crustaceans. They grew up to 15” in length.

Notogoneus:
These are fairly uncommon.  Their living relatives in the Indo-Pacific area are referred to as "sand-fish".  Notogoneus range in size from about 18" to 3'.

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