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Rare, 2.92" Fossil Basilosaurus Incisor Tooth - South Carolina
This is a rare, 2.92" long fossil incisor of Basilosaurus, a primitive whale. It was found in a river in South Carolina by a diver looking for Megalodon teeth. It would have eroded out of late Eocene-aged rocks in the area. It's in excellent condition with a full root and little wear to the crown.
Comes with a floating frame display stand.
Comes with a floating frame display stand.
Basilosaurus was a huge, primitive, toothed whale that lived during the Eocene period (40 to 34 million years ago) and grew to about 50-60 feet in length. It was the top predator of its environment, preying on sharks, large fish and other marine mammals. It was a primitive whale and not directly related to modern whales. Unlike modern whales, it had several types of teeth–such as canines and molars and was probably was able to chew its food in contrast with modern whales which swallow their food whole. It’s vertebrae appear to have been hollow, and likely also filled with fluid. This along with it’s relatively weak axial musculature and thick limbs bones imply it likely was not capable of deep diving like modern whales.
Fossils of Basilosaurus were first discovered in Alabama in 1830’s and considered quite a curiosity. It’s enormous fossil vertebrae were even used for furniture and building construction materials. A complete skeleton was unearthed in 1834. Originally the bones were thought to be those of a giant lizard, leading to the name Basilosaurus which means “king of lizards”. When it was designated the state fossil in 1984.
Fossils of Basilosaurus were first discovered in Alabama in 1830’s and considered quite a curiosity. It’s enormous fossil vertebrae were even used for furniture and building construction materials. A complete skeleton was unearthed in 1834. Originally the bones were thought to be those of a giant lizard, leading to the name Basilosaurus which means “king of lizards”. When it was designated the state fossil in 1984.
SPECIES
Basilosaurus
AGE
LOCATION
South Carolina
SIZE
2.92" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#310434
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