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Sale 30
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Lot 1734
Complete Psitaccosaurus Dinosaur, 127 Million Years Old. 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. Some of the excellent-quality bones are fused together with rods in the middle to give the skeleton a natural appearance without wire braces and frames. This dramatic Psittacosaurus skeleton is 36 in. long with more than 85% real bone, unlike most museum dinosaurs which usually are casts or 15-25% original. The only restored bones are at the end of the tail, neural spines and a few hard bones.
The 4 x 5 in. skull is excellent with the important Jugals (extension of the jaw bones) plus fenestrae (openings at the back of the skull that define Psittacosaurus as the most ancient of Ceratopsians -- hormed dinosaurs). Psittacosaurus did not have horns like its more famous relative, Triceratops. 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. Psittacosaurus (translates to "parrot beaked reptile") is so very imporant as the smallest "horned" dinosaur that eventually became some of the most bizarre dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.
In recent news, also in Liaoning Province, a baby Psittaccosaurus was found in the stomach of the remains of a Mesozoic, dog-sized mammal, the first evidence scientists had that some triconodont mammals were carnivorous and fed on small vertebrates, including young dinosaurs.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a museum-mounted dinosaur. The skull and all four limbs are easy to remove for study and then put back in the mount for a unique, table-top display. A similar, slightly-larger specimen brought over $58,000 in a recent Natural History auction.
Allow $550 for crating and shipping.
Estimated Value $13,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $16,100 |
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