Titanothere "Brontotherium"
As the vast majority of Titanotheres are found on Native American / Sioux Nation land, where fossil collecting is strictly forbidden without consent, specimens are extremely difficult to obtain legally, Therefore, we are proud to be able to legally offer this superb Titanothere / Brontotherium specimen which was housed in Dave's private museum for many years until a long time associate purchased it. Through a trade with that same knowledgeable collector, we were able to re-aquire this exceptional piece and are now offering it for purchase.
The rarity and desirability of this complete lower jaw with ts superbly preserved original teeth is without question. It is one of the finer specimens we have observed, both when rarely on the market or in a museum.
The permineralization of the specimen, shows interesting green hints throughout, as many of these animals perished due to volcanic ash. The ash contained Celadonite, which is a mica group mineral, containing phyllosilicate of potassium, iron in both oxidation states, aluminium and hydroxide. There are vast areas of rock formations in these parts of the United States, where many of these and other fossils are discovered where this mud / rock was absorbed into the specimens as they were fossilizing, giving them a distinct green tone.
There's not much more we can say about this "museum quality specimen" other than plain and simply, it's a gem. Dimensions: ~23" long x 15" wide x 9" high Location: Badlands, South Dakota, USA Time Period:Oligocene
Titanotheres are a now extinct group of gigantic Rhinoceros-like perissodactyls (odd toed ungulates "hoofed mammals") which roamed in herds, primarily in the "Badlands" area of the United States and Canada. These enormous beasts, stood up to 8 feet and were so abundant during their time that entire fossil beds have been found at several locations in the Badlands area.
Because of their massive size and the abundance of Titanotheres fossils in the area, the Sioux Nation tribe actually incorporated them into their mythology, naming them "Brontothere" meaning "Thunder beast", in reference to the thunderous noise they would have made when galloping through the heavens and skies.
Titanotheres were strictly herbivores with a diet constricted to browsing. This is reinforced by their large "W" shaped molars, constructed for grinding and chewing, most likely upon plants and other vegetation.
Titanotheres had a large unusual bony "Y" shaped horn, which protruded just above its nose. The horn was much larger on males and it's thought they used it against other males for head butting, as do elk, rams and other horned animals do when challenging each other for supremacy within their own herd. The females had a much smaller horn appendage, which was used to protect their young from the predators of their time.
Mixed theories of Titanothere's extinction include mass burial due to volcanic ash and starvation as climate change altered their habitat from lush vegetative green lands into grasslands.