Lot 461
SABER TOOTHED CAT SKULL. Perhaps next to a T-Rex, the most popular fossil is that of a Saber Toothed Cat, particularly the skull with its lethal saber-like teeth. In May of this year a complete Smilodon skull from the famous LaBrea tarpit area brought over $330,000. This exquisite 9 inch long skull belongs to the closest know ancestor of Smilodon, Megantereon nihowanensis of the Gansu Province ofCentral Asia. While Smilodon is only 15,000-50,000 years old, Megantereon is 5 to 6 million years old. This skull is completely natural with excellent crème color bone quality and all natural teeth including the all important intact giant sabers that are 3.75 inches long around the curve. Just like Smilodon, the saber teeth of Megantereon were long and very thin and would have broken if they bit down on solid bone. They were most likely used to rip the throat of the prey animal or rip at its stomach. The lower mandible was missing when this skull was found and has been cast from another specimen by a paleontologist and perfectly matched in color and texture with the museum quality skull. With the real lower mandible, specimens of Megantereon have sold for more than $20,000. This is an opportunity to acquire a rare and in great demand saber-toothed cat skull for a very reasonable price.
Add $85 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 10,000.
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