Near-Complete Chinese Psittacosaurus Dinosaur Skeleton

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Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Jul 25, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-07-25 10:00:00 2019-07-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-tribal-ethnographic-4291
Featuring ancient and ethnographic art from around the world, including Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Ethnographic, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Fine Art, much more. Many Oceanic pieces from an important Tucson, Arizona collection, first time at auction!! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Central/Eastern Asia, China, Early Cretaceous, ca. 126 to 101 million years ago. A fantastically preserved, near complete skeleton of Psittacosaurus, a ceratopsian dinosaur who lived in the area that is today Mongolia, Siberia, China, and Thailand. As adults, they stood on their powerful back legs, with their heads held high, as this example's pose demonstrates. Their skull resembles that of a parrot - indeed, that is the origin of the name, as parrots are Psittaciformes - with a pronounced beak. The skull of this example is particularly well preserved (see color inverted photo) and its form is very clear. Indeed, the Psittacosaurus skull is very interesting compared to other ornithischian dinosaurs, with an almost round profile and the eye placed relatively far down the snout. In life, scientists theorize that these animals had keratin around the bony beak, creating a blade-like form for cutting through plants. Size of largest articulated section, which includes part of the spine and hips: 4.5" L x 8.25" W x 1.75" H (11.4 cm x 21 cm x 4.4 cm); approximate length 41" L
  
  Recent research has given us a better idea of what this animal would have looked like in life. A Psittacosaurus found in the Yixian Formation of eastern China had some preserved body covering, revealing that the animal was covered in scales and possibly feathers. Another study from two different fossil finds in 2016 revealed that the animal, which would have lived in dense forest, may have had counter shaded coloring, similar to deer, with stripes and spots that camouflaged it. The tail would have had a series of stiff bristles rising from it. In life, this creature would have had large eyes and an excellent sense of smell, its body evolved to evade predators as it browsed the Cretaceous forests. The dynamic pose you see it in here allows you to imagine it as it was in life.
  
  Provenance: private Smith collection, Carlsbad, California, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #147297

  Condition

  Partially assembled, with the spinal column in several pieces, the limb bones largely disarticulated, and the skull attached to a short part of the vertebral column. Feet are missing. Many of the bones have been repaired, with limited restoration - approximately 70-80% is original. Many of these bones are fragile and have small losses.
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