Bargain, 2.6" Fossil Oreodont Upper Skull Section - South Dakota

Bargain, Fossil Oreodont Upper Skull Section - South Dakota #355972

This is a 2.6" long partial upper skull of an oreodont (Leptauchenia decora) from the Oligocene-aged White River Formation of South Dakota. All of the teeth present are natural and unrestored. There is a repaired crack through the middle of the specimen.

Comes with an acrylic display stand.

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 - 35 Million Years)