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A herd animal which grazed the North American plains in abundant quantities, the goat-like M. culbertsoni was an oreodont, a kind of prehistoric ruminating hog related to the modern day camelids. It would usually measure up to 40 inches in length, with tusk-like canines, a heavy body, short legs and four-toed hooves. Some oreodonts were well-adapted to watery environments, even capable of hearing, seeing and breathing when submerged. They also had very strong and heavy jaws, with small canine teeth and large sharp premolars.
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(Click Photo to Enlarge Photos)
Name: Merycoidodon culbertsoni
Age: Oligocene
Formation: Brule Formation
Location: South Dakota
Size: Here is another nicely preserved Oreodont.. it measures approx. 8.25" long x 4.5" wide x 5 3/8" tall. This one too has not had it's snout and front teeth eaten off which is how most Oreodonts are found.. it is believed that when the predators of the day took down an Oreodont, they grabbed them by the snout for the take-down or once they were down they grabbed the snout to suffocate them.. the snout would either be eaten off or ripped off since most of the skulls found have the very end missing... This specimen is nicely inflated with crack repairs.. but on obvious restoration found on exam. The 3 bottom teeth and one fang have had some repair done to them.. but I believe that the original teeth are still there.. See last photo for details..Merycoidodon Skull 2 - $775.00