PERFECT BOBCAT FEMUR - Tick Island - Northeast Florida, U.S.A.

EARLY TO MIDDLE HOLOCENE PERIOD:  8000 - 5000 years ago

Fossils of felines are extremely rare.  While this specimen is technically not considered a FOSSIL, it dates back to an ancient period after the end of the last Ice Age.  With this specimen comes our first opportunity to offer a completely intact right femur (upper leg bone) from the North American Bobcat, Lynx rufus.  It is a land find hence its light butter yellow hue and impeccable preservation similar to the cave specimens of Eastern Europe from the Ice Age.  The entire bone is complete and perfect with no damage or breakage.  Both joints are intact and superbly preserved.  Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION.

Bobcats are rarely seen predators and highly intelligent.  They have long limbs allowing great speed in running.  This femur with its elongate and thin profile demonstrates this wildcat's ability for high-speed locomotion.  It is an extremely rare and highly uncommon (our first) find.  Fossil remains from Florida offer a huge diversity of fauna but even with all the variety of specimens we have come across before this find, we had yet to encounter a specimen from this animal.  To be in such remarkable condition makes this a highly recommended predatory cat fossil of North America.

Lynx rufus, otherwise known as the bobcat, gets its name from its short "bobbed" tail, as little as 1" to 2" long.  This small and highly intelligent predatory cat is primarily nocturnal.  It prefers the habitat of swamps and forests and feeds on small land mammals and birds.  While bobcats can live in close proximity to people, they prefer wild prey over domesticated animals.  Their average life expectancy in the wild is 14 years.  A bobcat will make a den out of a hollow log or tree base or almost any opening in the ground.  Normally mating in Spring, they gestate for 50 to 60 days and give birth to an average litter of 2 to 4 kittens which leave their mother in the Fall of the following year.  Lynx rufus in the Southern U.S. produces two litters annually.  

Lynx rufus has been found in numerous Pleistocene localities in North America.  First appearing about 2.5 million years ago, early examples were generally slightly larger in body size than its modern counterparts.  It has been suggested that L. rufus descended from a common ancestor with several other species in North America 6.7 million years ago.

SUPER RARE PREDATORY CAT LEG BONE COMPLETE AND PERFECT!

6.9" in length

$345    LM47-001     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

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