Work

An Isolated Fish Skull from the Nonmarine Eocene of Wyoming, USA: A Case Study in Evaluating a Possible Regurgitalite

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: An isolated fish skull from the Early Eocene Green River Lagerstätte from southwestern Wyoming, USA was tentatively identified as a regurgitalite. It consists of a skull of the perciform moronoid Mioplosus labracoides and articulated vertebrae. After mechanical preparation, the specimen was studied in detail and it could represent a regurgitalite, a pabulite (remnant of predation) or a portion of a decayed fish. Fish decay rarely results in an isolated skull, so this specimen probably pertains to a bromalite (pabulite or regurgitalite). We consider that it most likely is a regurgitalite because of the breakage of bones and displacement of elements.

Source: Fossil Studies

DOI: 10.3390/fossils4020011

Authors: Spencer G. Lucas, Adrian P. Hunt, Edward L. Simpson, Larry F. Rinehart

Institutions: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Kutztown University

Language: English

Topic: Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207

OpenAlex ID: W7160880643

FWCI:

Cites: 34

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