Pediomys sp

Class Mammalia, Infraclass Marsupialia, Order Ameridelphia, Family Stagodontidaee

Geologic Time: Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Stage (~67 million years ago)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 6 mm long by 4 mm wide

Fossil Site: Hell Creek Formation, Carter County, Montana

Code: HCF07

Price: $75.00

Description: Early mammals are most often represented by teeth because of their relative abundance in each animal and the fact that they are made the hardest material. Indeed, some paleontologists have joked that the evolution of some can be seen in the fact that teeth gave rise to descendant teeth without anything else having been involved. This tooth is a molar from the Didelphodontid Pediomys, a genus discovered by O. C. Marsh in the late 19th Century. It has excellent cusps and would make a fine addition to any collection of Late Cretaceous specimens.