The Scenario

In the foreground, two Baena turtles are feeding on insects on a partially sunken log while the crocodile Leidyosuchus attacks a trionychid turtle. Varanid lizards of the genus Saniwa in the left background are feeding on the snake Boavus, another example of which is foraging in a tree on the right. The fishes Diplomystus are in the water.

The Environment

During the Eocene, a series of large, freshwater lakes were present in the area of what today is Wyoming and Utah. These lakes accumulated fine sediments which form the Green River Formation. At the same time, rivers and swamps near these lakes accumulated sands and clays that form the Bridger Formation. The scene shows a margin of a large lake where foliage and water provided diverse habitats for vertebrate life.