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RARE EARLY MIOCENE JUVENILE CROCODILE JAW WITH TOOTH - Suwannee River, Florida, U.S.A. EARLY MIOCENE PERIOD: 20 - 18 million years ago The uniqueness of this specimen cannot be overstated as fossils from the terrestrial vertebrates of Miocene Florida are extremely rare. This is anterior skull portion of the upper left jaw of a juvenile crocodile, Gavialosuchus americanus. The site that yielded this remarkable fossil dates back to the ARIKAREEAN AGE, a term used in the scientific community as part of the North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMA). These ages represent periods on the geologic time scale as they relate to this type of fauna.Unlike most fossil crocodile and alligators jaws that arise in the market where the jaw is a composite with the teeth added from other creatures, this specimen is exactly as found. The tooth is still attached to the jaw and is the first of its kind we have seen like it from this rare site. The tooth is perfect and an intense blood reddish orange. It is unbroken and complete with a sharp tip. The bone of the skull is perfectly preserved as seen in the images above. NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. Even more interesting, this specimen came from a site where other Miocene infant crocodile remains have been found in association with bear dog fossils suggesting these baby crocodiles were preyed upon by the bear dogs. The Amphicyon toe bone we have listed elsewhere was found with this crocodile jaw and both of these fossils would make a highly unusual and rare combination for display - a RARE exhibit of Miocene Florida PREDATOR and PREY! The modern crocodiles of today have remained unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs. Crocodiles belong to the family Crocodylidae. Although this family has existed since the upper Triassic Period, over 200 million years ago, reptiles which can definitely be classed as modern crocodiles only appear in the fossil record about 80 million years ago. The crocodile's eyes and nostrils are on top of the head so it can see and breathe while the rest of it is underwater. As an added advantage, its ears and nostrils can close when it dives, and a nictitating membrane (a transparent eyelid) closes over the eye to keep water out. Crocodiles swim mostly with their tails. Though their back feet are webbed, they rarely use them underwater. On land, they use their powerful legs to move around. They only look slow; Nile Crocodiles have been known to "gallop" at speeds of about 30 miles an hour.
TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE FOSSILS FROM THE EARLY MIOCENE OF FLORIDA ARE SUPER RARE AND ONLY FOUND AT A HANDFUL OF SITES EXCEEDINGLY RARE WITH ORIGINAL PERFECTLY PRESERVED TOOTH - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 1.5" in length $395 MV10-001 INCLUDES LARGE DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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Although
crocodiles look like alligators, they can be distinguished by their
longer, narrower snout, and their fourth tooth, which sticks out from
the lower jaw rather than fitting neatly into the upper jaw. The adults
can reach lengths of over 10 feet and can weigh up to 1500 pounds.
