21.2" Fossil Oreodont (Merycoidodon) Skeleton - Nearly Complete!

This is a spectacular, nearly complete oreodont (Merycoidodon culbertsoni) skeleton in situ, collected from the White River Formation of Converse County, Wyoming. This formation is Oligocene in age, making this fossil approximately 32 million years old! The bones that have been exposed from the rock include an incredibly well preserved skull, an articulated spinal column, scapula, arm bones, ribs, pelvis, and leg bones. The skull became detached from the spine and flipped, however it is naturally associated and has not been mounted to the rock. This gorgeous specimen is accompanied by a custom metal display stand.

Restoration is fairly minimal on this specimen considering how much bone is present. The restoration is primarily found in the form of crack repair and gap fill within the rock, for the specimen was collected in multiple pieces and reassembled during preparation. The angle of the left side of the mandible has been restored, along with a portion of the nuchal crest. All of the teeth of the skull are natural and there hasn't been any compositing to this specimen. The back of the specimen has been stabilized with a mixture of false rock and metal rods.

Measurements:
Entire Specimen - 21.2 x 16.2"
Skull - 5.7 x 3.9 x 2.6"
Weight - 25.4 lbs

Artist's reconstruction of Merycoidodon.  By Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) Creative Commons License
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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Merycoidodon culbertsoni
LOCATION
Converse County, Wyoming
FORMATION
White River Formation
SIZE
Entire specimen: 21.2 x 16.2"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#232222
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