The first fossil mammal in my collection: a partial jaw of Merycoidodon sp.

[gond]

Hello everyone, even though I haven't reached 35 fossils in my collection like I hoped for this year, I still managed to close 2023 with my 34th fossil!
The one I'm going to show you today is, in fact, this 34th fossil, which is also the first mammal fossil I've ever owned 

 

 

Species: Merycoidodon sp. (Leidy, 1848)

Size: ~3.0 cm long
Age: 34-23 mya (Oligocene, stage indet.)
Origin: South Dakota's Badlands (USA)

About this fossil: a partial lower jaw of this genus, with four nicely preserved teeth. I personally like how, in this specimen, the matrix is still present, which helps to keep the two parts together and just makes the fossil look nicer

[Tidgy's Dad]

I hope 2024 will greatly enlarge your collection.