Lot 1842 - S17 Out of This World - Tuesday, 28. June 2022, 04.00 PM
SABER-TOOTHED CAT SKULL
Machairodus giganteus
Asia
Upper Miocene, Messinian (4.5-7 million years)
Mounted on a custom metal and wood stand
Skull 39 x 24 cm, Sabers 12.2 cm
Asia
Upper Miocene, Messinian (4.5-7 million years)
Mounted on a custom metal and wood stand
Skull 39 x 24 cm, Sabers 12.2 cm
Provenance: Swiss private collection
From the most impressive saber-toothed cat species of all time, this fantastic skull is from Machairodus giganteus, a species even larger than the famous Smilodon of the La Brea Tar Pits.
With their enormous, deadly-sharp canines, saber-toothed carnivores were frightening and ferocious predators of the Late Miocene era.
This species roamed the fields of Central asia until about 10,000 years ago. The animals were about the same size as today's lions or tigers, but somewhat a lot stronger in build. Their protruding fangs reached a length of up to 16 centimetres.
Why the enormous teeth? Certainly they were used in hunting, but opinions vary as to exactly how they were applied. Some paleontologists have suggested that they were used to grab and hold onto prey. Another agreed-upon on hypothesis suggests that saber teeth were used to deliver a fatal ripping wound to the belly or throat of a prey animal. This made them immensely dangerous hunters that were feared even by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon humans.
This wonderful specimen, exhibiting over 98% original bone material, displays exceptional sabers, which protrude over four inches from the skull. It is among the largest saber-toothed cat skulls ever found. This is undoubtedly one of the finest fossil cat skulls ever to be offered for public sale and would be a museum-quality addition to any collection.
From the most impressive saber-toothed cat species of all time, this fantastic skull is from Machairodus giganteus, a species even larger than the famous Smilodon of the La Brea Tar Pits.
With their enormous, deadly-sharp canines, saber-toothed carnivores were frightening and ferocious predators of the Late Miocene era.
This species roamed the fields of Central asia until about 10,000 years ago. The animals were about the same size as today's lions or tigers, but somewhat a lot stronger in build. Their protruding fangs reached a length of up to 16 centimetres.
Why the enormous teeth? Certainly they were used in hunting, but opinions vary as to exactly how they were applied. Some paleontologists have suggested that they were used to grab and hold onto prey. Another agreed-upon on hypothesis suggests that saber teeth were used to deliver a fatal ripping wound to the belly or throat of a prey animal. This made them immensely dangerous hunters that were feared even by Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon humans.
This wonderful specimen, exhibiting over 98% original bone material, displays exceptional sabers, which protrude over four inches from the skull. It is among the largest saber-toothed cat skulls ever found. This is undoubtedly one of the finest fossil cat skulls ever to be offered for public sale and would be a museum-quality addition to any collection.
剑齿猫头骨
巨型剑齿虎亚洲晚中新世，墨西拿（4.5 - 700 万年）安装在特殊定制的金属及木质支架上头骨 39 x 24 厘米, 牙齿 12.2 厘米
这个奇妙的头骨来自有史以来最令人印象深刻的剑齿虎物种巨型剑齿虎(Machairodus Giganteus)，这个物种甚至比拉布雷亚(La Brea)沥青坑中著名的美洲剑齿虎(Smilodon)更大。剑齿猫有着巨大的、致命的锋利犬齿，很多人都认为它是中新世晚期可怕的、凶猛的捕食者。这个物种在中亚的田野上游荡，直到大约1万年前。这些动物的体型与今天的狮子或老虎差不多，但身材更强壮一些。它们突出的獠牙长度达到了16厘米。为什么它们的牙齿这么巨大？当然，它们被用于狩猎，但对于它们的具体使用方式存在不同的看法。一些古生物学家认为它们被用来抓取和固定猎物。另一个公认的假设是，剑齿是用来在猎物的腹部或喉部撕开一个致命的伤口。这使他们成为无比危险的猎人，甚至连尼安德特人(Neandertaler)和克罗马农(Cro-Magnon)人都害怕它们。这个奇妙的标本由超过98%的原始骨骼材料组成，具有从头骨突出超过四厘米的非凡剑齿。它的长度为17 ½ 英寸，是迄今为止发现的最大的剑齿猫头骨之一。毫无疑问，它是有史以来予以出售的最美丽的猫头骨化石之一，将成为任何收藏品的博物补充。
CHF 28 000 / 45 000 | (€ 28 870 / 46 390)
Sold for CHF 55 200 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.