Lot 509
COMPLETE PSITTACOSAURUS DINOSAUR. Psittacosaurus is a very important dinosaur that lived between 120-130 million years ago in Liaoning Province, Central Asia. Psittacosaurus is important as being the oldest ancestor of the famous horned dinosaurs such as Triceratops. Psittacosaurus did not have horns but did possess a horned beak and bony Jugals (back of the upper jaw) which are characteristic of only ceroptopsian (horned) dinosaurs. Psittacosaurus was a very small dinosaur being only 4-5 feet long as an adult. This 24 inch long juvenile is the smallest mounted dinosaur ever offered at auction. The great preservation of the small delicate bones occurred because this dinosaur was instantly buried under volcanic ash over 120 million years ago, a sort of dinosaurean Pompei It has been mounted in the life-like position of the Psittacosaur as displayed in the New York Museum of Natural History and has no external armature but has thin rods inserted in the bones, stands on rods in its feet and makes for a costly but amazing display. Approximately 70-75 percent of the dinosaur is real bone including all of the legs, claws, body, vertebrae, skull with only the ribs, neural spines and the end of the tail being professionally cast. Most dinosaurs in museums that are real usually contain only 10-40 per cent real bone. The all important skull is 2.5X2.5 inches in good condition (not distorted or compressed) with six reel teeth on one side of the jaw. This small complete dinosaur would make an excellent desk top display and comes with instructions for easy assemblage in the provided wooden base (takes about 5 minutes) as there are seven sections that can be easily removed for study, the four legs, body, tail, and skull. The skull can be removed for study or to show amazed friends.
Add $75 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 14,000.
|
| |
| Unsold |
