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PLEISTOCENE BOBCAT INTACT THORACIC VERTEBRA Suwannee River - North Florida, U.S.A. PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 1.5 million - 10,000 years ago Predatory cat fossils are rare and complete post-cranial elements are SUPER RARE. With this specimen comes another rare opportunity for us to offer such a specimen. This is an amazingly INTACT thoracic vertebra from the North American Bobcat, Lynx rufus. Despite its delicate nature, it was protected deep within a Pleistocene gravel bed of the Suwannee River and survived serious and typical breakage. The entire vertebra is complete with only the tips of some of the processes missing as seen above. All lateral processes are present and the articulating surfaces are very well preserved. Completely fossilized in a dark charcoal black. If you look around, cat fossils are seldom available and when they are, they are always jaw or teeth elements. ANY bones are rarely found complete so a specimen such as this is highly uncommon. 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. POST-CRANIAL PREDATORY CAT FOSSILS ARE SUPER RARE - A CHOICE SPECIMEN! 1.25" high by 1" wide SOLD LM47-002 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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