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ULTRA RARE FOSSIL PLEISTOCENE BOBCAT MANDIBLE WITH ORIGINAL CARNASSIAL TEETH Marion Co. - Florida, U.S.A. MIDDLE (RANCHOLABREAN AGE) TO LATE PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 300,000 to 10,000 years ago Predatory cat fossils are rare and seldom seen in private collections. Fine grade specimens such as this are highly sought after by vertebrate fossil collectors as deposits yield such little material of this kind. With this listing comes another rare opportunity for us to offer such a specimen. This is a nearly complete mandible of an Ice Age North American Bobcat, Lynx rufus. The jaw was found in three pieces and the rear half of the right side was exposed in the river sediment which is why the colors are different but the fracture matches up exactly. The teeth are all original and were found still rooted in the bone. The left and right are NOT from different bobcats. This RARE mandible is completely original AS FOUND with beautifully colored carnassial teeth and contrasting brown bone. This is a rare collection for a museum or highly advanced private collection. A very rare and a special offer so definitely recommended. Guaranteed NO FABRICATION or RESTORATION. The fact that our company is based in Florida which offers one of the richest vertebrate Pleistocene fossil deposits in North America, we see a great deal of fine specimens that are simply nearly impossible to find outside of this general geographic region of the continent. When we say something is rare, consider the amount of material we see. Rest assured, an Ice Age felid fossil collection like this is not something you will likely come across twice in a lifetime! 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. The creature survived the mass extinction of many animals from the final Ice Age in North America and lives today. 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. This small and highly intelligent predatory cat is primarily nocturnal and is rarely seen. 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. PREDATORY CAT FOSSILS ARE RARE AND HIGHLY-PRIZED BY ADVANCED COLLECTORS Mandible is 2.95" long on the longest side $595 LM47-007 Actual Item - One Only |
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