Lot 142
West Coastal South America, Miocene, 20 to 12 million years ago. This is a rare fossil of a partially articulated string of three lower thoracic vertebrae of a Miocene Period seal from South America. Pinniped fossils are rare except for the occasional isolated fragmentary find. Articulated remains like this are highly uncommon. Fossils of the giant Megalodon shark and other Miocene sharks like Great White and Isurus hastalis are found in the same region as where this seal fossil came from. Various cetacean (whale) fossils both toothed and baleen, are also found in this region. A seal like this would have likely spent a great deal of its time evading these higher predators much like they do today. This would make a perfect and highly unique compliment to any fossil shark fossils from South America. Size: 9" W x 7-3/4" H (22.9 cm x 19.7 cm).
The matrix of this specimen has been cleaned and removed from around each of the vertebrae. None of the vertebrae were removed or placed in this piece. The pose is exactly how the animal died and how it was found in this matrix. Bone has been sealed with a consolidant to protect its fragile condition. There are a couple of small repairs in the bone but there is NO RESTORATION AND NO FABRICATION to this fossil. The vertebrae are fairly weathered but still show nice anatomy and all three dorsal processes are intact and original. The matrix has been removed deeply around each bone offering a very high relief display piece. From an old French collection and impossible to find or collect today due to highly restrictive South American fossil export prohibitions! This is a highly recommended piece and rare for what it is and based on the absence of any legitimate articulated pinniped fossils on the market.
Provenance: Ex-private German colleciton.
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#111069
- Condition: 100% original, minor fracture repair but no fabrication. On original stone
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