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Sale 56
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Lot 459
PSITTACOSAURUS DINOSAUR IN MATRIX. 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 as well as having some type of quill type feathers on its tail. This is extremely important as before this only theropod (meat eating dinosaurs) were found with feathers. This means that the even earlier ancestor before ornithopods like Psittacosaurus and all theropods split must have had feathers. Only male Psittacosaurs had small horns just below their eyes. All Psittacosaurs had 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 19-20 inch long juvenile is still entombed in its 14 x 13 inch original matrix in the same position it was buried in when covered under volcanic ash over 120 million years ago, a sort of dinosaurean Pompei.
The bone quality of this little dinosaur is amazing especially the all important skull. This exquisite 3.5 x 3 inch skull has been meticulously prepared with all of the matrix removed on the side extending up from the matrix. This is one of the best skulls known with intricate detail inside of the skull that is usually lost as well great detail of the beak, teeth which are complete on the one side, the small horns on the top of the skull in front of the eyes (this is a male) and the delicate fenestrae on the top of the skull. The entire dinosaur appears to be mostly complete with all original bone except for some restoration that was done on some of the ribs. Most of the bones that are not visible appear to be still buried in the matrix. One of the large rear feet has two toes visible with the other still in the matrix. The second back foot is buried under one of the front arms. The second front are is present but partially buried in the matrix. Even most of the delicate neural spines that are usually broken are in position on top of the body and tail vertebrae. The bones of this museum quality dinosaur are 3-D and extend above the matrix for dramatic display, in particular the magnificent skull.
Add $85 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500.
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| Realized $8,813 |
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