Bargain, 4.1" Fossil Oreodont (Leptauchenia) Upper Skull - Unprepared

Bargain, Fossil Oreodont (Leptauchenia) Upper Skull - Unprepared #249259

This is a 4.1" long upper skull of Leptauchenia decora, an oreodont from the oligocene-aged White River Formation of Pennington County, South Dakota. It has been partially exposed from the rock and appears to be fairly complete. It could be displayed as is, or further prep could be done to exposed the rest of the skull.

Comes with an acrylic display stand to assist with presentation.

Because the eyes and nostrils were placed high on the head, it was long assumed that Leptauchenia was an aquatic or semi-aquatic animal. However, because their fossils have never been found in floodplain deposits or river channels but are found abundantly abundance in fossil sand dunes, paleontologist Donald Prothero suggests that they were desert-dwelling animals. According to Prothero's interpretation, the high-placed eyes and nostrils served to filter out sand while burrowing, or while digging themselves free of sand dunes.

SPECIES

Leptauchenia decora

AGE

Oligocene (30 - 35 Million Years)