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Sale 33
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Lot 859
Dinosaur. All of the bones from this important dinosaur were removed from their 127 million year old rocky tomb and professionally mounted in a life-like running position. Most of the excellent quality bones are fused together with rods in the middle, giving the skeleton a natural appearance without wire braces or metal frames. This dramatic Psittacosaurus skeleton is 45 inches long with more than 80% real bone, unlike most museum dinosaurs which are usually cast or contain only 15 to 20% original bone. The only restored bones are the end of the tail, the neural spines, and most of the ribs. The missing bones were cast by a professional paleontologist from the finest specimen found to achieve maximum accuracy.
The all-important skull is excellent with the distinctive Jugals (extension of the jawbones) plus fenestrae (openings at the back of the skull that define Psittacosaurus as the most ancient of Ceratopsians-horned dinosaurs). Psittacosaurus did not have horns like its more famous relative, Triceratops; but in life the Jugals were covered with keratin (the same substance found in our fingernails). This keratin covering extended the length of the Jugals by several inches ending in a sharp point and giving Psittacosaurus a bizarre "warthog" type of appearance. Also, an amazing Psittacosaurus fossil was found that preserved strange long quill-like feathers on its tail. This magnificent dinosaur is so well preserved because it was buried in volcanic ash from a gigantic eruption 127 million years ago in Liaoning Province, China.
Very recently a baby Psittacosaurus was found in the stomach of the remains of a Mesozoic, dog-sized mammal, the first evidence scientists have had that some triconodont mammals were carnivorous and fed on small vertebrates, including young dinosaurs.
This rare opportunity to acquire an important museum mounted dinosaur. Psittacosaurus (which translates to parrot-beaked reptile) is scientifically very important as the smallest horned dinosaur that eventually evolved into some of the most bizarre horned dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The skull and all four limbs are easily removed for study and then can be put back on the Mount for a unique tabletop display. A similar specimen brought over $58,000 in a recent natural history auction.
Shipping: Allow $550 for crating and domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 22,000.
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