Eosalmo driftwoodensis
Middle Eocene
Driftwood Shales
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada.

Extremely rare 12.5 inch example of the earliest known Salmon. Museum quality specimen.

At the discovery site a full range of individuals from young juveniles through adults are found. This range indicates that the genus was completely freshwater dwelling and did not spend time in saltwater. Eosalmo or Dawn Salmon is the most primitive member of the Salmoninae subfamily.

Unlike the Middle Eocene fossil fish of the Green River Formation that thrived in a subtropical setting, the Middle Eocene lakes in British Columbia were higher in elevation and more temperate climatically with different fish genera.

The British Columbia Provincial Government closed all private collecting around 2000, designating the lake bed sites as Heritage Sites so this specimen is one of a kind. No new specimens will be available.