Lot 778
Leptaucheria Mammal Skull. Leptaucheria was a 30 million year old strange early mammal that was an ancestor of both pigs and camels having some features like a pig and others like a deer. It was a scarcer type of oreodont that may have been an aquatic swimmer or a tree climbing animal. No one knows for sure but its larger eyes sit high up on the skull which is indicative of an aquatic mammal. This impressive 3.75X2.25 inch skull is virtually complete with the back of the skull still within its stony matrix. The very large eyes are lemur-like in size pointing to perhaps a nocturnal life style for Leptaucheria. The teeth have lovely beige enamel and are complete where exposed. This weird mammal of the White River Badlands of South Dakota and is sold mounted on a custom 3 X 1½" inch wooden stand. Estimated Value $500 - 700
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| Realized $313 |
