4.7" Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Skull - South Dakota

Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Skull - South Dakota #249247

This is a 4.7" long skull of an Oreodont (Merycoidodon gracilis). It was collected from the White River Formation in Pennington County, South Dakota and would be approximately 30-35 million years old. The jaws include beautifully preserved teeth that are natural and unrestored.

Comes with an acrylic display stand to assist with presentation.

This skull has undergone some lateral compression, resulting in fragmentation of the bone in spots. The left zygomatic arch has been completely restored and the angles of the left and right side of the mandible are restored. One spot of restoration can also be found along the upper skull.

Artist's reconstruction of Merycoidodon. By Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) Creative Commons License

Oreodonts are an extinct mammal most closely related to camels and pigs. They have no close relatives living today. They were herbivorous, with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. About the size of a sheep, they roamed the plains of North America in huge numbers during the Oligocene period.