Rare Meniscoessus Cretaceous Mammal Tooth from Hell Creek

Description: Presented is an excellent rooted tooth from a primitive mammal that existed during the last years of the age of the dinosaurs.

Meniscoessus is a genus of extinct mammal from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now North America. It lived toward the end of the "age of the dinosaurs" and was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata. It lies within the suborder Cimolodonta and family Cimolomyidae. The genus Meniscoessus was named by Cope E.D. in 1882. Multituberculates are the only major branch of mammals to have become completely extinct, and have no living descendants. Although not known to many people, they have a 100 million-year fossil history, the longest of any mammalian lineage. These rodent-like mammals were distributed throughout the world, but seem to have eventually been outcompeted by true rodents. Over 200 species are known, some as small as the tiniest of mice, the largest the size of beavers. The genus Meniscoessus was named by Cope E.D. in 1882.

A word regarding the legality of these fossils. Our provider only collects on private ranch and farmlands of Montana and S. Dakota. His relationships with these landowners have been cultivated over many years of door knocking and often difficult negotiations. Our collector, in the beginning stage of a possible collecting arrangement, cannot even contemplate a deal until he has walked the land holdings to discover if there are ancient remains to be found.