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RARE GIANT GROUND SLOTH MEGALONYX UPPER TUSK Dixie County - Florida, U.S.A. LATE PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 120,000 - 10,000 years ago Ice Age mammal fossils are not as popular with collectors despite some of the most bizarre creatures in prehistory being amongst the mammal group. Collections that comprise fossils from these overlooked beasts of the past often raise more attention and stir interest as most lay-persons are not aware of many of the magnificent mammals that walked the earth before the end of the last Ice Age. Giant sloths are among these creatures and giant ground sloth fossils are not only impressive to display but fine quality specimens are rare, as well.This is a rare and beautifully preserved large right upper front tusk from the giant ground sloth Megalonyx jeffersoni from prehistoric Florida during North America's last Ice Age. It was collected long ago and was acquired from an old and extremely well-outfitted private collection of Florida fossils. It is one of the finest and more colorful examples we have encountered! We acquired other specimens of the same animal from this collection but this was one of the best of the SELECT group and had the lightest color. A rare INVESTMENT CLASS fossil tusk such as this specimen presents an incredible opportunity. Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. This beauty is AS FOUND! This tusk is an amazing specimen to handle and view in person and is much nicer than the photos indicate. The images do not truly capture the luster, beauty and detail of this massive tusk. The many unique anatomical features and corresponding detail is nothing short of remarkable! Color is a natural caramel brown and the sheen IS NATURAL. The chewing surface is complete and perfectly preserved as is the delicate hollow root as shown above. For the advanced collector that takes pride in exhibiting atypical, non-commercial fossils of exceeding rarity, this specimen is an ABSOLUTE MUST! From an old and extremely impressive private collection of Florida fossils. This is the ultimate addition for any fossil tusk or tooth collection!!! The genus Megalonyx (means "large claw") was labeled as such by President Thomas Jefferson. President Jefferson's creation of this genus represents an interesting historical event as it was one of the first records of early paleontology in North America. It was originally believed that the large claw discovered and assigned to this group was from a giant carnivore. Later, it was recognized to be xenarthran in its design. There were four Megalonyx species that emerged in Florida starting in the Early Pliocene. As each successive species emerged, they became increasingly larger in body size: Megalonyx curvidens, Megalonyx leptostomus, Megalonyx wheatleyi and finally Megalonyx jeffersoni which grew to the size of a black bear. This was the only family (the Megalonychids) of giant sloths that did not walk on the sides of their feet like the other types. The teeth of Megalonychids are oval to sub-rectangular. Their claws are sharp, curved and laterally compressed. 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. This male Eremotheriums grew to an estimated THREE TONS. Giant ground sloths in North America went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene. ONE OF THE NICEST EXAMPLES YOU WILL EVER FIND - EX-PRIVATE COLLECTION FROM LONG AGO! 3.35" in length $675 LM3-012 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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