Is It Real?

[Doctor Mud]

I always like looking online at that site beginning with E and sorting by highest price.

It's amazing what you see. Some are clearly fake and people are asking thousands.

This looks odd- especially the teeth, and it's Really expensive.

Macrauchenia patachonica

Edited August 28, 2015 by Doctor Mud

[Troodon]

When I saw this I had the same reaction. Did some quick research and found it did not sell at a UK auction house. Their estimate was 30,000 - 40,000. Pretty interesting set of chompers. The top of the skull looks like its had some work.

Here is an image off the web

[Foshunter]

It looks fake in so many ways, I wouldn't want it in my house if it was free. Pull the picture up and enlarge it, you will see the construction which is at best very poor----Tom

[Doctor Mud]

When I saw this I had the same reaction. Did some quick research and found it did not sell at a UK auction house. Their estimate was 30,000 - 40,000. Pretty interesting set of chompers. The top of the skull looks like its had some work.

Here is an image off the web

macrauchenia-skull.jpg

Yes - I saw that too. Bids did go up to about 1,500 though, reserve was obviously not met.

[Doctor Mud]

More images for comparison;

Fossil for sale:

Sketch from type specimen (I think?)

This sketch seems to be based on this image I found on the web:

It would be nice to see an example from a peer reviewed paper - maybe even the type specimen.

[Doctor Mud]

It looks fake in so many ways, I wouldn't want it in my house if it was free. Pull the picture up and enlarge it, you will see the construction which is at best very poor----Tom

Yes - I agree. Comparing to other examples, the sutures are all wrong and it looks like sloppy putty work as well,

Those teeth are what originally got me though...,

[RJB]

If nothing else, it was worth a laugh. Thanks

RB

[Auspex]

The bone at the gumline of the maxila seems to be poorly preserved; this may be responsible for the 'lecherous sneer" that makes it seem so odd.

[Doctor Mud]

The bone at the gumline of the maxila seems to be poorly preserved; this may be responsible for the 'lecherous sneer" that makes it seem so odd.

Excellent observation. In the illustrated specimen the bone pretty much follows the line of the tooth surfaces, whereas its higher in the for sale item exposing too much tooth and resulting in the lecherous sneer ( I like it :-)).

So apart from that - possibly a real preservation artifact, it seems we have a foundation of real skull with an unknown amount of restoration. Appears like a lot on the upper skull.