Description
A small natural mammal bone lot: a cranium, two jaw halves with teeth, and one vertebra. It was found naturally in the woods out of state (Oregon or Colorado) during field surveys, and it is naturally sun-dried with very little cleaning done. Species is not confirmed. A rodent or squirrel was considered, but this doesn’t look like one: there are no large curved gnawing front teeth with a gap behind them, and the jaws carry a long, continuous row of small, pointed, multi-cusped cheek teeth with a pointed canine-like tooth in front. My best guess is a young Virginia opossum. A small member of the weasel family, such as a mink or weasel, is the other possibility, so please treat the identification as a best guess.
This is an aged specimen. The cranium is creamy white and weathered, with the skull seams (sutures) visible on top and some fine natural cracks; the underside shows the delicate nasal and inner skull structure, as the upper tooth rows and palate have come away. The two jaw halves still hold several small pointed cheek teeth, with some empty sockets where teeth have fallen out, and they are darker and more stained than the cranium. The vertebra is small and tan, with dried tissue remnants. The pieces are loose, not glued or assembled. The photos show the lot together from the side, from above, and the underside of the cranium.
Features:
- Small natural mammal bone lot, species not confirmed (best guess young Virginia opossum; mink or weasel possible)
- Cranium (braincase and snout), about 2.7 x 1.29 x 1.03 inches
- Two jaw halves with several small pointed cheek teeth still in place
- One small vertebra
- Skull seams (sutures) visible on top, which suggests a younger animal
- Fragile: thin bones with natural cracks, chips, a few missing teeth and empty tooth sockets; pieces are loose, not assembled
- Naturally sun-dried; very little cleaning done, with some staining and dried tissue on the jaws and vertebra
- Total bone weight approx. 0.4 oz
- One of a kind: you get the pieces pictured
Sold as is for buyers who want to clean, whiten or display it themselves. Wearing gloves, then cleaning and sanitizing before handling, is advisable. Great for oddity and curiosity collections, natural-history and skull study, bone and skeleton displays, art and craft projects, altars, or Halloween and gothic decor. Decorative and educational use only.
Legal note: this is a natural, aged specimen sold as a natural-history and curiosity item. It is not from an endangered, protected or migratory species. Please check your own state’s or country’s rules on animal parts before you buy; I can’t ship where it isn’t allowed.
Aged item: As is, no returns. Local pickup in Sumas, WA.
Shipping note: padded and boxed, 5 x 4 x 2 inches, 0.7 oz packed. Live carrier rates only; no flat rate.
