DICKINSON’S RHINOCEROS: For today’s #FossilFriday we have this newly-donated specimen of a young fossil rhinoceros, probably a Subhyracodon from Eocene rocks (~35million years old) that are exposed a few miles south of town. If you look carefully you can see that the last molars (teeth at the back of the jaws) are only just growing into place, telling us that this individual was not yet fully grown.

This wonderful specimen was generously donated to the Dickinson Museum Center this summer, and was a wonderful surprise to see when I got back from the field a few days ago. We will be putting the specimen on exhibit shortly, along with some other items from the same collection.