5.4" Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Partial Mandible - South Dakota

Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Partial Mandible - South Dakota #355509

This is a 5.4" long mandible (lower jaw) of Merycoidodon, an oreodont from the oligocene-aged White River Formation of South Dakota. There are a few repaired cracks through the specimen and a section of rock has been left attached to the jaw for structural purposes. The base of the left canine has been restored with the remaining teeth being unrestored.

Comes with an acrylic display stand.

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.

SPECIES

Merycoidodon sp.

AGE

Oligocene (30 - 35 Million Years)