Bargain, 2.9" Fossil Oreodont Skull - South Dakota

Bargain, Fossil Oreodont Skull - South Dakota #243584

This is a 2.9" wide, partial upper skull of an Oreodont (Merycoidodon sp.). It was collected from the White River Formation in Pennington County, South Dakota and would be approximately 30-35 million years old. The skull has been exposed from the rock, with a section of rock remaining to hold the bone in place. There are some teeth still in the upper jaw. No restoration or repair to this specimen.

Comes with an acrylic display stand to assist with presentation.

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.