3.55" Unprepared, Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Jaw - South Dakota

Unprepared, Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Jaw - South Dakota #249285

This is a 3.55" wide, partial lower jaw (mandible) of an Oreodont (Merycoidodon sp.). It was collected from the Brule Formation (White River Badlands Group) in Pennington County, South Dakota and would be approximately 30-35 million years old. The jaw has been exposed from the rock, with a section of rock remaining to hold the bone in place. There are three partially exposed, complete teeth.

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.