5.9" Brontothere Fossil Vertebrae Bone Eocene Age Badlands S Dakota Titanothere COA

Location: White River Badlands, South Dakota

Weight: 2 Pounds 9 Ounces

Dimensions: 5.9 Inches Long, 3.9 Inches Wide, 3.2 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Eocene Age, 56 to 33.9 million years Old.

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

During the Eocene period, roughly 56-33.9 million years ago, Brontotheres—scientifically designated Megacerops coloradensis—inhabited the Badlands landscape. These formidable creatures, whose name translates to "thunder beast," evolved from diminutive, dog-sized ancestors into imposing giants comparable in stature to modern elephants or large rhinoceroses, attaining heights of approximately 8 feet and lengths of 16 feet. Their most striking anatomical feature consisted of paired nasal horns that expanded from modest protuberances into substantial structures exceeding 3.3 feet in length, with sexual dimorphism evident in horn proportions. Though superficially resembling contemporary rhinoceroses, brontotheres occupied a distinct evolutionary trajectory; however, Badlands deposits preserve genuine rhinoceros progenitors such as Subhyracodon alongside these extinct megafauna. This vertebral specimen represents a tangible connection to an ancient fauna that dominated North American ecosystems during the Paleogene period, offering paleontological insight into mammalian evolution and adaptation across millions of years.