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GIANT ARMADILLO THORACIC VERTEBRA - Suwannee River - Florida, U.S.A. PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 1.81 million years - 10,000 years ago From the Pleistocene deposits of the Suwannee River, this magnificent Giant Armadillo thoracic vertebra is a SUPER prize specimen for any Pleistocene fossil collection. The species is Holmesina septentrionalis and this specimen came from a juvenile animal. This well-mineralized vertebra is remarkable in its condition and is a very uncommon find. It is rare in both its state of preservation and its color having been protected deep in a layer of clay where it was excavated. The bone is so well preserved that it clinks like fine china. The surface is impeccable and shows every minute detail as shown above in the close-up image. Thoracic vertebrae are the vertebrae running down the mid-section of the animal. Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. This beauty is AS FOUND!In North America, there are two species of Holmesina that are known with both based on Florida finds. The smaller animal is named, H. floridanus and lived during the late Pliocene on into the early Pleistocene. Floridanus' larger cousin at more than twice its size, H. septentrionalis, ranged from the middle to late Pleistocene. At over 600 pounds and exceeding 6 feet in length, the Giant Armadillo must have been one heavy land tank of an animal. It is believed these creatures spread to Florida during the Pleistocene from their original domain in South America. It is still a mystery as to what they ate. Modern armadillos eat insects but to sustain 600 pounds of body mass would have required some other type of food source. About 9800 years ago, a dramatic shift in the climate caused their extinction in Florida. A VERY RARE FIND PROTECTED IN A CLAY LAYER WHERE IT WAS FOUND - INTACT! 3.25" wide x 2.5" high SOLD LM5-001 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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