Fossilized Stegodon Bone Fragment - Pleistocene Era

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Pleistocene era, ca. 1.5 to 1.2 million years ago. A fossilized bone fragment from a Stegodon, a prehistoric elephantid. Please note, this is not a tusk, but carved in modern times to resemble a tusk from a Stegodon or other prehistoric elephant species. The membrane and cell structures that made up the bone are now captured in the stone, creating a marbled pattern across the surface. Stegodon was believed to be an ancestor to mammoths and today's elephants, however recent studies have revised the understanding of Stegodons' evolutionary lineage, suggesting a divergence from direct ancestry with modern elephants. Another interesting evolutionary footnote is the phenomenon of insular dwarfism - in response to limited resources and breeding isolation, island dwelling Stegodons were much smaller than their mainland relatives. In Indonesia there is compelling evidence indicates that these small stegodons were even preyed upon by Komodo dragons and inhabited much of Asia! Size: 8" L x 2.5" W (20.3 cm x 6.4 cm) Item # 185242

Estimate:$350

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