Desmostylus hesperus
Class Mammalia, Order Desmostyidia
Geological Time: Middle Miocene (~15 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Tooth is 41 mm by 27 mm by 30 mm high with 13 mm and 17 mm roots
Fossil Site: Temblor Formation, Fresno County, California
Fossil Code: GAF02
Price: $225.00
 Description:
This is a rooted tooth of the unusual mammal Desmostylus. Desmostylus
was a hippopotamus-like herbivore that has elongated jaws with
forward-facing tusks and most unusual teeth. The genus derives
its name from these teeth (Desmostylus means bonded pillar
tooth). When they first erupted from the gums they were composed
on conical
columns filled with dentine. As they wore down they became a group
of closely associated enamel rings. The genus had a discontinuous
range along the Pacific coast of North America and Japan, and was
once thought to subsist upon seaweed. It is now thought to have
carried out an estuarine lifestyle, feeding on freshwater aquatic
plants. Teeth of this most unusual taxon are rarely offered. Since
this one is free of entombing matrix, you can easily study
it from every aspect. |
