Description:

East Asia / Western North America, Northern Pacific Rim region, Oligocene to Miocene, ca. 28.4 to 7.2 million years ago. A pair of teeth from the prehistoric creature Desmostylus, a large aquatic mammal that slightly resembled a small hippopotamus and lived in shallow freshwater and coastal environments. These are both molar teeth with a lobed morphology and circular cavities encased by dark black-gray enamel that attaches to pointed roots which have then fossilized within a calcified mass of shells fragments / seafloor debris. As the teeth indicate, this animal was an herbivore - foraging on aquatic plants and possibly mollusks according to some researchers. Although aspects of Desmostylus are similar to manatees and hippos, scientists have not discovered a close evolutionary relationship to any animal today! Size of large molar: 2.5" L x 1.5" W x 2.5" H (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm x 6.4 cm); stone matrix: 6" L x 3" W (15.2 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: private Constance McCormick Fearing estate, Montecito, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#181052

  • Condition: Smaller molar is reattached to the root, break line is nearly indiscernible and has some new material infilling the fissure. Some small fissures on the enamel, but overall great condition.

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November 9, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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