North America, Western United States, South Dakota, Pennington County, White River / Upper Brule Formation, Oligocene, ca. 33 to 30 million years ago. A fossilized lower nearly complete jawbone from a prehistoric mammal known as Hyracodon nebraskensis, one of the earliest relatives to modern rhinoceros! The bone is mounted on a wooden display stand with molars, premolars, and a few incisors and fragments. Scientists have surmised from this animal's jaw structure and teeth that Hyracodon were browsers rather than fully grass grazing - the premolars have central cavities that later rhinoceros relatives also had. Hyracodon was a small pony-like ungulate with long, slender limbs for speed, but 3-toes, browsing the open forests and grasslands of North America. Although visually similar to primitive horses, Hyracodon are often referred to as hornless "running rhinos" to indicate their relation to later genera. Size: 8" L x 3" W x 2" H (20.3 cm x 7.6 cm x 5.1 cm); 3.5" H (8.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, found in Pennington Co, South Dakota, USA on private land in 1970.

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#183868

Professionally prepared with expected repairs and restoration with new material. Losses to front incisor teeth as shown. Mounted on a wooden base with a sticker label.