Beautiful tooth of extinct N. American horse, Equus leidyi

[Bruce Williams]

Hi folks,

Here's a beautifully preserved fossil tooth of the North American horse, Equus leidyi. It is a river find from Bone Valley, Central Florida. E. leidyi was one of the many large mammals that died out during the "Pleistocene Extinction" some 12,000 years ago.

The tooth is a lower molar, 4cm long and the bite surface measures 25mm x 15mm.

The cusp really is as shiney as it looks in the images.

Pics taken with Minolta A2 and stacked using CombineZM (17 frames).

Any info on this species greatly appreciated

Bruce

[beetleman]

Great photos Bruce..you did a fine job on capturing the textures on the surfaces. The ridges are a very interesting pattern.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Doug.

Yes the ridges do make an interesting pattern don't they. Their shape reminds me of something but I can't quite latch onto what???

I have changed the second image (I wasn't happy with it) and sent you a PM to explain.

Bruce

[MacroLuv]

Very nice Bruce!
Seems it was heavily used and served well.
Reminds of some medieval bulwarks or high mountain pathway.

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

Beautiful! And a pleasant change from the live stuff we usually get here. I especially like the isometric view.

[Bruce Williams]

Nikola - Thanks for your comment. Yes while I was handling and studying the tooth I was very concious that it was once part of a living, breathing creature with it's own life experience. It experienced birth, relationships with others of its kind, lived through both good and difficult times, probably knew fear and faced its death - in whatever manner. The fact that the owner was a fellow mammal makes it easier to relate to than a dinosaur or ancient shark.

Mike - Thanks for your encouragement. I have collected ancient coins and fossils for many years and photographing them up-close adds enormously to my enjoyment.

Bruce