6.4" False Saber-Toothed Cat (Dinictis) Skull - South Dakota

False Saber-Toothed Cat (Dinictis) Skull - South Dakota #356723

This is very rare find from the White River Formation of South Dakota, a complete skull of the "false saber-tooth cat", Dinictis squalidens. The skull measures 6.4" in length and is in phenomenal condition with no compositing and relatively little restoration - approximately 7-10%. It is accompanied by the pictured custom stand and base that the upper skull and mandible display on in articulated fashion, creating a fascinating, museum-quality display.

Upper Skull: The majority of the restoration on this skull is centralized along the left zygomatic arch and the parietal/nuchal crest. The three left incisors have been restored, along with much of the apical half of the left canine. There is additional gap fill at the basal end of the left canine. The tip (about .2") of the right canine has been restored.

Lower Jaw: There are small spots of restoration along the mandible, primarily at the anterior end of the jaw where the two halves were reconnected with gap fill and four of the teeth are restored (three incisors and the left canine). The left, posterior-most premolar has also undergone some restoration across its apical edge.

Although resembling big cats,‭ ‬Dinictis and Hoplophoneus (the second primary cat of the White River Formation) are actually of the family Nimravidae,‭ ‬more popularly known as the‭ "false saber-toothed cats‭". ‬Like Smilodon which preceded them, these cats had very enlarged, saber-like canine teeth in their upper jaws. They are thought to have been ambush hunters which may have preyed upon primitive horses like Mesohippus and ruminant-like mammals like oreodonts.

$17,500 $16,500

SPECIES

Dinictis squalidens

AGE

Oligocene (~30-35 Million Years)