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Fragile hollow root still intact with no repair nor damage!
Superb, GEM! intact chewing surface with stunning structure and grain
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VERY RARE THINOBADISTES GIANT GROUND SLOTH MOLAR TOOTH Suwannee River - Florida, U.S.A. LATE MIOCENE PERIOD: 9 - 5 million years ago This is a very rare and beautifully preserved molar tooth from the giant ground sloth Thinobadistes segnis from the Late Miocene of prehistoric Florida. This was the very first species of Mylodontid giant ground sloths to appear not just in Florida 9 million years ago, but in all of North America. The main obvious trait of Mylodont molars are their tri-lobed form. This specimen was found deep in clay hence its rare and immaculate state of preservation and color. The grain and various cream and walnut brown tones must truly be seen to be appreciated. The gem-like chewing surface is completely intact and displays a stunning pattern. Entire tooth is without any damage! This is the most beautiful (and rarest) sloth molar we have ever offered. The thin, delicate walls of the roots are still intact which makes this specimen especially recommended! Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. This beauty is AS FOUND!Ground sloths were slow-moving herbivores that died out at the end of the Pleistocene Period. They are survived today only by dog-sized tree-dwelling forms found in Central and South America. Some prehistoric giant ground sloths grew as large as a modern elephant. Giant ground sloths were so large that they were not able to climb trees, hence their land-roving lifestyle. Giant sloths are related to armadillos, sharing similar designs in their blunt, deep skulls as well as their mandibles. Their jaws were powered by very robust muscles for chewing vegetation and each jaw possessed three to five teeth. Giant ground sloths possessed very large feet sporting massive claws. Their claws were so large that they walked on the sides of their feet. Sloths could stand on their hind legs aided by a very strong tail, to reach vegetation at levels higher than other herbivores could typically reach. Prehistoric Florida was home to three families of giant ground sloths - Mylodontidae, Megatheriidae and Megalonychidae. It is theorized that sloths first entered North America through Florida, nine million years ago from the South American continent. The first sloths in Florida (and North America) were the Mylodonts represented by two species of the genus Thinobadistes and the Megalonychids represented by the genus Pliometanastes. Later in the Pliocene, sloths again entered Florida with two Mylodont species, Glossotherium chapadmalense and Paramylodon harlani, and with the Megalonychids genus, Megalonyx. By the Early Pleistocene, the largest ground sloths appeared, the Megatheriidae with several species represented. The largest ground sloth to have ever lived in North America is a member of this last group and is known as Eremotherium. The male Eremotheriums grew to an estimated THREE TONS. Giant ground sloths in North America went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene. This is not only a highly attractive specimen but also of great scientific and historical value as this is the first Mylodontid sloth in the fossil record of North America and one of only two types of the earliest sloths in this continent. Perfect with uncommon light color as opposed to typically much darker river sloth fossil remains from the tannins in the water. SURREALISTIC BEAUTY IN THIS PERFECT MOLAR OF THIS RARE, SELDOM SEEN SPECIES! 2.7" in length SOLD LM3-002 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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