{"product_id":"desmostylus-tooth-fossil-specimen","title":"Desmostylus Tooth - Fossil Specimen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMined from\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: Temblor Formation, Central California, USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e:\u003cspan\u003e Neogene Period (Miocene Epoch)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeological Age\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e: ~23–10 MYA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription\u003c\/strong\u003e: This one-of-a-kind Desmostylus tooth fossil is a compact but striking specimen, showing a tightly clustered arrangement of columnar tooth structures embedded in a natural sedimentary matrix. The defining feature is the circular cross-sections of the tooth columns, each with a dark, enamel-rich outer ring and lighter interior, giving a honeycomb-like appearance when viewed from above. The enamel is dense and well-preserved, with a smooth, slightly worn surface that reflects the animal’s heavy grinding function. The surrounding matrix contains fragments of shell material and marine debris, reinforcing its origin in a coastal or shallow marine environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1672\" data-start=\"972\"\u003eDesmostylus was a large, semi-aquatic herbivorous mammal that lived along the Pacific Rim, often compared loosely to a cross between a hippopotamus and a manatee. Its teeth are among the most distinctive in the fossil record, composed of bundled cylindrical columns rather than flat grinding surfaces. These structures were ideal for crushing tough aquatic vegetation such as kelp and seagrass. Fossils from California are typically recovered from marine sedimentary formations deposited along ancient shorelines, where rapid burial in sand, silt, and shell beds allowed for excellent preservation. The presence of intact enamel alongside fragmented matrix suggests minimal transport prior to burial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1971\" data-start=\"1674\"\u003eSpecimens like this offer a direct window into a now-extinct order of mammals that once occupied coastal ecosystems long before modern marine mammals diversified. The unusual tooth morphology alone makes Desmostylus instantly recognizable and highly sought after by collectors and educators alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2283\" data-start=\"1973\"\u003eThis fossil is often associated with themes of adaptation and uniqueness, representing a lineage that evolved specialized traits to thrive in a niche environment. It carries a sense of individuality and persistence, tied to a creature that followed a very different evolutionary path than anything alive today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuantity\u003c\/strong\u003e: 1pc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWith this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph. We do what we can to buy good quality products and price them honestly. The rocks may differ from the photos, but we hope we do them justice.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"California, U.S.A","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48186541605034,"sku":null,"price":700.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/7158\/3658\/files\/DesmostylusTooth-California-700-9.jpg?v=1775788021","url":"https:\/\/rubblerockandgem.com\/es\/products\/desmostylus-tooth-fossil-specimen","provider":"Rubble Rock And Gem","version":"1.0","type":"link"}