Gar

Gars have been around since the Age of Dinosaurs. In fact, they're sometimes called "living fossils." Modern gars retain the thick, diamond-shaped scales of their prehistoric ancestors, which make them virtually invulnerable to attack.

As ambush predators, most gars lurk in the weeds, darting out to skewer unsuspecting prey on their long, needle-like teeth. But Masillosteus janeae, an extinct species, had different habits. It stirred up the ocean floor looking for shellfish to crush and devour with its tiny, molar-like teeth.

Noted Field Museum scientist Lance Grande was the first to recognize and describe this unique mollusk-munching gar. Masillosteus janeae hails from the famous Green River Fossil Formation in Wyoming, where the Museum conducts excavations each year. In fact, The Field Museum boasts one of the world's top three fossil fish collections. It includes almost 17,000 specimens, with less than one percent on display. Together, these fossils act as a critical research library used by scientists from all around the world.