FANTASTICALLY RARE SHORT-FACED BEAR SKULL. ...

Description

FANTASTICALLY RARE SHORT-FACED BEAR SKULL
Tremarctos floridanus
Late Pleistocene, Rancholabrean
Marion Co., Florida, USA
The Florida short-faced bear is an extinct relative of the modern day Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) that flourished at the end of the Pleistocene era, 300,000-10,000 years ago. They were larger than their modern-day cousins, and distinguished by the short snout that provides their common name, and are sometimes known also as the Florida Cave Bear, for their supposed preferred mode of habitat, and ranged along the Gulf Coast from Florida north to Tennessee and westwards to California. Remains of these creatures, however, are exceptionally rare and this skull represents one of the finest and most desirable examples ever seen; never before has one been offered at auction, and rarely do they come up for private sale (the last instance was over eight years ago). In addition, the present specimen is in truly superb condition, with minimal restoration (minor crack-filling to some processes of the vertebrae, rami, incisors, nasal bones and a few areas of skull). It comprises the skull and complete neck (all seven cervical vertebrae) from an adult female, with the lower jaw of a second female, recovered from the same locality. The patination to the bone is outstanding, ranging from an attractive grey-brown to pale salmon and deep dark black coloring on the skull. Most of the teeth are present, and in a similarly fine state of preservation with excellent enamel coverage. It cannot be overstressed what a fine and rare specimen this is, perfectly presented on a custom metal stand with ovular ash base, and measuring 20½ inches long by 6½ inches wide.

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