Bargain, 6.9" Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Skull - South Dakota

Bargain, Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Skull - South Dakota #243585

This is a 6.9" wide, partial 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 partial mandible and upper skull have been exposed from the rock. There are two natural teeth still preserved within the mandible.

Comes with an acrylic display stand to assist with presentation.

There are a couple repaired cracks, but no restoration to the specimen.

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.