Major Acquisition Fossils
Our policy has always been that any fossil vertebrate considered scientifically significant is reserved for acquisition by a pubic institution as part of a permanent collection. We also recognize that there is some room for interpretation of the term “scientifically significant” as a clear definition does not exist. In light of this fact, we restrict the availability of any skeleton having particularly unique characteristics to institutional buyers. Unless otherwise noted, purchase of any specimen includes scientific publishing rights, but TPI retains the commercial casting rights on all specimens sold.
Prices will vary based on the level of preparation and mounting required. Please contact us to discuss prices and options.
Dinosaurs
Edmontosaurus annectens "WXT" | 65-75% complete
Size: This specimen is an exceptionally large individual, and will measure 35 feet (10.7m) long, and 12 feet (3.66m) high at the hips.
Availability: 3-6 months from acquisition.
Locality: Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. 66 million years old.
Description: Standing on two legs the head could rise to over 20 feet. Approximately 65-75% of the original skeleton is preserved, sans skull. The skull placed on the mounted specimen would be a composited cast at nearly 4 feet (1.3m) long. Skin impressions have been preserved on some bone and matrix surfaces suggesting this Edmontosaurus was partially mummified.
Comments: Skin impressions have been observed in a number of places on this partially mummified Edmontosaurus.
Sturdy field jackets were constructed to preserve articulation and soft tissues.
Bone preservation is excellent and many distal elements were recovered, including phalanges.
Most material is in field jackets. Preparation can begin immediately. Some skin impressions on several parts of the body are preserved with the fossil material.
Maiasaura "Gil" | 70% Complete
Size: About 9 meters (30 feet) long.
Availability: Delivery 6-9 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Judith River formation of Montana.
Description: A large adult specimen, missing the rear legs, neck and skull. Bone quality is excellent. The specimen is otherwise virtually complete, and during field excavation, many areas of skin impressions were discovered, with more promising to be found during preparation. The specimen is articulated. Rib cage, hips, one arm and the tail are all complete. We recommend mounting this specimen in its death pose, as the right arm is extended forward, ribs pointing up, and tail straight out. It could be mounted as-is, or the rear legs could be composited in, as could a neck and skull provided from a cast specimen for completion.
Comments: This specimen is partially prepared. The natural articulation of this specimen is amazing and we intend to create an in situ mount to preserve it.
Daspletosaurus sp. "Sir William" | 30-40% Complete
Size: Approximately 36 feet (10.6m) long and 10 feet (3m) high at the hips.
Availability: Delivery 12 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Judith River formation of Montana.
Description: This may be a new species of Daspletosaurus. Excavation of this very large theropod began in the fall of 2002 and continued during 2003 and 2004. We have obtained between 30-40% of the body from one end of the animal to the other, including many skull elements, scapula-coracoid, gastralia and ribs, femur, partial tibia, several vertebrae, ischium and more. The skull of this find suggests a more “Tyrannosaurus-like” animal than Daspletosaurus torosus, possibly indicating an intermediate form between D. torosus and T. rex.
Comments: Basic preparation is finished. Restoration will commence shortly.
Aquatic Fish & Reptiles
Champsosaurus laramiensis
Size: 1.6m (5 feet) long.
Availability: Delivery 2-4 months from date of acquisition
Locality: Judith River formation of Montana. 78 million years old.
Description: Champsosaurus is a common find as small clusters of isolated teeth, vertebrae and scutes, but rare as relatively complete skulls or skeletons. This specimen is about 5 feet (1.6m) long, for which we have about 75% of the post-cranial and a few skull parts. Fossil is 78 million years old.
Comments: It is mostly prepared at present, and needs to be restored, reconstructed and mounted.
Basilemys variolosa “Doug”
Size: Precise measurements unavailable until restored
Availability: 8 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Judith River formation of Montana. 78 million years old.
Description: Basilemys is the largest land turtle of the Cretaceous period in North America. Given its size, this genus is surprisingly poorly known as a complete animal. This specimen is exciting because the shell, being totally disarticulated before burial, gives us the opportunity to restore the high domed carapace in 3 dimensions for the first time ever. It is also significant because it preserves several non-shell elements, adding to our knowledge of this specimen and the shell itself shows evidence of fungal infections during life, just like modern tortoises. This specimen has been stratigraphically determined to be around 78 million years old.
Comments: Original material is prepared. Reference specimen is currently under preparation in anticipation of restoration.
Stigiochelys estesi “Helmut”
Size: Carapace 40 cm (16 inches) long.
Availability: Delivery approximately 2 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota, 66 million years old
Description: Round out your dinosaur exhibit with this well preserved, undistorted fossil turtle specimen. One of the rarer turtles in the Hell Creek Formation, Stygiochelys (or “Hell River Turtle”) shows distinctive sets of spikes along the rear margin of its upper shell.
Comments: Show preparation has begun. Complete carapace and plastron are present. This will make an excellent display piece showing other animals at the time of the dinosaurs.
Marine Fossils
Tylosaurus kansasensis "Explodosaurus" Skull
Size: 40cm (16 inches) long.
Availability: Immediate delivery available.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: Nearly complete skull restored and mounted in 3 dimensions with stand. This restored and mounted mosasaur skull measures 16 inches (40cm) in length. This specimen was nearly lost to erosion, but many hours of painstaking work has resulted in an exceptional mount.
Comments: By far the smallest Tylosaurus skull of any species that we have ever recovered and restored.
Already prepared and mounted, this specimen is ready for exhibition.
Sold!
Tylosaurus nepaeolicus "Ceto"
Size: The skull is over 1m (3.3 feet) long, with a restored complete lenth of 6m (20 feet).
Availability: 3-4 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: An extraordinarily rare find, this is the first Tylosaurus ever discovered with skin preserved on the skull. The specimen consists of a complete articulated and intact skull with partial skeleton, which includes three field jackets of articulated bones. These jackets contain a complete vertebral column to the proximal tail, as well as many ribs. Ceto has a bite mark from a large Cretoxyrhina shark across the neural spines of 7 dorsal vertebrae. A great display specimen, showing even the largest marine predators were not completely safe in the ancient sea. Can be mounted either as-is, in situ, or with cast additions to make a complete panel mount skeleton.
Comments: There is a patch of preserved skin and scales on the skull, which can be highlighted via blacklight.
Plesioplatecarpus planifrons "Newbie"
Size: 5.3m (18 feet) long.
Availability: 4-6 months from date of purchase.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Gove Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: This fine partial specimen consists of the skull, dorsal vertebrae and ribs. This well preserved skull and torso would composite well with our "Shredder" specimen resulting in a nearly complete original fossil specimen from the parts of two 15-foot lower chalk Plesioplatecarpus.
Comments: Currently prepared out of matrix, awaiting restoration. Very little distortion of the bone.
Plesioplatecarpus planifrons "Shredder" | 70% Complete
Size: 4.5 m (15 feet) long.
Availability: 6 months from date of purchase.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Gove Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: 70% complete skeleton of Plesioplatecarpus planifrons (aka Platecarpus planifrons) with Toxochelys fossil sea turtle as stomach contents. This fossil represents definitive evidence that this mosasaur was more than just a piscivore, as was commonly thought, but had a much wider diet among smaller vertebrates of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway.
Comments: This specimen was recovered with stomach contents representing a juvenile Toxochelys, and can be mounted chasing this specimen to illustrate this.
Pachyrhizodus caninus "Stormy"
Size: 2m (7 feet) when restored with a head.
Availability: Delivery 4-6 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: Nearly complete skull, pectoral fins, vertebral column and caudal fin. Other elements possibly present. This is an uncommon large fish, measuring 8 feet (2.5m) long.
Comments: This specimen of Pachyrhizodus is larger than average, and is known for its prominent pair of palatine teeth. It is a contemporary of the giant predatory fish Xiphactinus audax and has been found as Xiphactinus stomach contents.
Pentanogmius evolutus
Size: 1.7m (5 feet) long in original matrix slab.
Availability: 3-6 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation of Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: One of only three articulated specimens in existence of this strange sail-finned fish. A very rare and stunning display piece.
Comments: The panel mount will have the tail restored from another specimen.
Pentanogmius evolutus #2
Size: 1.7m (5 feet) long in original matrix slab.
Availability: 3-6 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation of Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: One of only three articulated specimens in existence of this strange sail-finned fish. This specimen promises to be an eye-catcher.
Comments: Amazingly complete Cretaceous sail-finned fish.
Protosphyraena pernicosa
Size: About 1.6m (5 feet) long.
Availability: Final preparation and finishing as a wall mount will take 4 to 6 months from date of order, depending on mounting preference.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: This is the world’s only intact, articulated skeleton of Protosphyraena. Skulls and pectoral fins have been found for 130 years, but until we discovered this complete skeleton in 2003, no one knew what it looked like. It is truly one of a kind.
Comments: The specimen can be restored with a cast skull.
Xiphactinus audax | Multiple Specimens Available
Size: 3-4.5 meters (10 to 15.5 feet)
Availability: Any of the specimens can be delivered in 3-4 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas, 80 million years old.
Description: These fossil Xiphactinus specimens are priced as professionally finished panel mounts rearticulated accurately as in life. We also have some skulls available without bodies. Some of our specimens are suitable for 3D mounting.
Comments: We have several Xiphactinus specimens available, from about 10 to 15.5 feet (3-4.5 meters).
Cimolichthys nepaholica
Size: 5 feet x 1 foot (150 cm x 31 cm).
Availability: 3-5 months for complete restoration as a plaque mount.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: This elusive marine predator is rarely found in such a beautiful state of completeness and articulation. Our Cimolichthys nepaholica skull and skeleton promise a quick and beautiful restoration.
Comments: Mostly prepared as a plaque mount in slab and jacket.
Ichthyodectes ctenodon Skull
Size: 20 inches x 15 inches.
Availability: Immediate.
Locality: Lower Niobrara Formation, Lane Co., Kansas, 85 million years old.
Description: This is an incredibly well preserved and fully articulated skull. Ichthyodectes means "fish-biter" and this huge head makes it obvious how it got that name. Collection of this particular specimen was filmed and featured in multiple episodes of Animal Planet's River Monsters when we took Jeremy Wade and the film crew "monster-hunting" in the chalk. Includes custom-build steel mount.
Comments: Collection of this specimen was professionally filmed and featured in multiple episodes of Animal Planet's River Monsters.
Ptychodus mortoni
Size: 70 cm (28 inches).
Availability: Immediate.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas, 80 million years old.
Description: The shell-crushing shark, Ptychodus mortoni, patrolled the bottom of the Western Interior Seaway for mollusks. Armed with pavements or batteries of robust, blunt teeth, this strange shark was uniquely capable of preying on the abundant inoceramid bivalves. This specimen is preserved with around 200 teeth.
Comments: It’s preservation is exquisite and includes rarely preserved jaw cartilage, denticles and vertebrae.
Chelosphargis advena Juvenile | 80% Complete
Size: 40 cm (16 inch) long shell.
Availability: Delivery 2 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas.
Description: Extremely rare, juvenile protostegid from the Niobrara Chalk. This specimen has a complete skull and 80% complete skeleton.
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Prionochelys matutina Juvenile | 30-40% Complete
Size: 38 cm (15 inch) diameter shell.
Availability: Delivery 4 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas, 80 million years old.
Description: Extremely rare fossil juvenile sea turtle. This Prionochelys specimen has a complete skull and between 30% and 40% of the postcrania.
Comments: The carapace has been partially prepped.
Other
Pteranodon sternbergi | 60% Complete
Size: 4.6 m (15 foot) wingspan.
Availability: Delivery 4-6 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas.
Description: One of the rare legendary crested pterosaurs of the Western Interior Seaway. Coming in at about 3 feet (1m) larger than the largest females, this moderate sized male Pteranodon will sport a distinctive crest. A panel mount is recommended to appropriately display this iconic flying reptile.
Comments: 60% complete skeleton including some skull material.
Sold!
Inoceramus
Size: 1.6 m (5 feet) wide.
Availability: Delivery 3-6 months from date of acquisition.
Locality: Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas.
Description: One of the legendary enormous clams of the Western Interior Seaway. This specimen of Inoceramus seems impossibly large with a nearly five-foot diameter. Commonly found as fragmentary or shattered remains, this large but delicate specimen represents one of the few collected intact.
Comments: Available for custom panel-mounting.