Lot 525
PARTIAL SKELETON OF 30 MILLION YEAR OLD OREODONT. Merycoidon culbertsoni was a strange early mammal of an extinct group of ruminants known as oreodonts that was only found in North America that had some features like a pig and some features like a camel or deer. Oreodonts are Artiodactyls which are even toed ungulates. The skull was somewhat pig-like with its enlarged canine teeth but the skull had pits in front of its eyes very similar to a modern deer. While skulls from Merycoidon are found regularly, near complete skeletons are unbelievably rare. This museum quality professionally prepared specimen has only about 5% restoration and consists of an excellent 8 inch skull, two near complete 18 inch long rear legs with several disarticulated claws, 18 inch long body and back vertebrae with several rib bones. This spectacular specimen is completely from one animal and has been prepared in the same position as when it died over 30 million years ago. The all important skull is excellent with almost all of its original teeth including one of the one inch long canines. This museum quality fossil was found in the Brule formation of the White river area of South Dakota and is a rare opportunity to purchase an esthetically attractive and important early mammal fossil.
Add $85 for domestic shipping: $85.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
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