Rare Green River Bird Fossil

Gallinuliiformes (?)

Class Aves, Order Galliformes (?), Family Gallinuloididae (?)

Geological Time: Eocene

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Leg (head of femur to tips of phalanges if articulated) 100 mm matrix: 150 mm by 115 mm

Fossil Site: Green River Formation, Fossil Lake, Kemmerer, Wyoming

Fossil Code: WWF158

Price: Sold


Rare Green River Bird FossilDescription: This 50 million year old, Eocene-Era partial fossil bird comes from one of the world's famous Laggerstatten, the Green River Formation in Wyoming. While far better known for the fish specimens with incredible soft tissue detail, other fossil are found there as well.

One of the most rare Green River fossils are specimens of birds. Most often trackways or feather impressions are found, with any portion of the body a very rare occurrence. This specimen shows the hind limbs and several associated bones including a partial sacrum with femoral socket evident along with several vertebrae. It is most likely a gallinule-like bird although a rail is another possibility. Fully articulated specimens are the rarest of all, with one easily commanding 50 X the cost of this specimen. In 14 years at the Tucson Fossil Show I have seen less than five bird fossils, all partials such as this.

Fossil Purchase

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