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Sale 35
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Lot 810
Important New Dinosaur--Jeholosaurus From China's Early Cretaceous Period. This is the first auction of a new rare ornithopod dinosaur from Liaoning, China, Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis. This exquisite specimen is more complete than the discovery holotype specimen with a better skull and more than 85% of the total skeleton present in the original matrix.
The exact relationship of Jeholosaurus to known groups of dinosaurs has not been determined fully at the present time. It is an Ornithipod and seemingly closely related to taxa referred to as hypsilophodontids. Hypsilophondontosaurus itself is not well understood, with only a single, near-complete specimen known. The name hypsilophdontid refers to the different shape teeth present in the jaw with the back teeth being somewhat flat like a plant eater and the front premaxillary teeth being sharp and pointed like a meat-eating dinosaur. This probably means that gypsilophondontids like Jeholosaurus were omnivores eating both plants and insects and possibly small lizards. Being an insectivore is consistent with the body of Jeholosaurus which had fragile light bones and long legs capable of great speed in running.
Jeholosaurus was found in the 130 million year old tuffaceous sandstone fo the lower Yixian formation near Shan gyuan, Liaoning Provinince, China. 130 million years ago an enormous volcanic eruption occurred burying everything within a 50-60 mile radius. This dinosaur Pompey resulted in the preservation of small delicate dinosaurs. Some even with feathers.
This spectacular dinosaur, Jeholosaurus, is 28 inches long with a superb skull 2½x2½", containing at least 10 teeth in the upper jaw and 6 teeth in the lower jaw. Most known skulls of Jeholosaurus have been crushed and distorted. This skull is the exception with only the backside crushed or still buried in the matrix. The front legs are 10 inches long, the backlegs 13 inches long, and the long tail 14 inches long, which is half the length of the complete dinosaur. One front leg and both back legs are exposed. Part of the missing front leg does show and the rest of it could still be buried in the matrix. The body and tail are quite complete, just missing some of the delicate neural spines.
This is a rare opportunity to purchase a rare dinosaur missing from most museums outside of China. Add $200 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $17,000 - 25,000.
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| Realized $12,650 |
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