1.3" Coryphodon Fossil Tooth Willwood Formation Big Horn County Wyoming Stand

Location: Willwood Formation, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Weight: 0.4 Ounces

Dimensions: 1.3 Inches Long, 1 Inch Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick 

Comes with a Stand and Mineral Tack.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Coryphodon is a fascinating extinct mammal that lived during the late Paleocene and early Eocene epochs in North America and Eurasia. The "sp." designation simply means we're talking about the genus Coryphodon in general, rather than a specific species. It was a large, sturdy herbivore, often compared to a hippopotamus in its build and lifestyle, although it's not closely related to modern hippos. Adults could grow up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) long and weigh over 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). Its skull was quite large, but it had a small braincase. The teeth of Coryphodon are typical of herbivores, with bunodont molars that have rounded cusps, and noticeable canines. These teeth suggest it was a browser, feeding on soft vegetation like leaves and aquatic plants. Fossil finds show that Coryphodon was semi-aquatic, thriving in swampy and marshy areas. Its strong limb bones and broad feet would have helped support its weight in soft ground, and its big body size likely aided in keeping it warm in water environments. This genus is really important for understanding how mammals evolved after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, especially the rise of large herbivores. Plus, finding it across North America and Eurasia tells us about the rich faunal exchanges happening during the early Cenozoic era.