Bargain, 2.6" Fossil Oreodont (Leptauchenia) Skull - South Dakota

Bargain, Fossil Oreodont (Leptauchenia) Skull - South Dakota #355968

This is a 2.6" long partial skull of Leptauchenia decora, an oreodont from the oligocene-aged Brule Formation (White River Badlands Group) of South Dakota. The skull is approximately 30% complete with decent teeth preservation considering its incomplete state.

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 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 - 33 Million Years)