Beyond Rare American Cheetah Proximal Phalanx



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  • Age:
    Pleistocene
  • Location:
    South Florida
  • Size:
    1 1/8 in
  • Species:
    Miracinonyx inexpectatus


This species is so rare that we have never seen a representation ever offered for sale publicly anywhere. This is a proximal section of the proximal phalanx from the American cheetah. This species dates from the middle Pleistocene, Irvingtonian, and is only known from a small handful of sites in North America. This specimen is easily recognized as American cheetah as it was found on an exclusively Irvingtonian site. American cheetah and Smilodon gracilis are the only cats of this size in the Irvingtonian, however Smilodon gracilis was not found at this site and numerous confirmed American cheetah fossils were. This specimen was found in direct association with the following American cheetah fossils: a lower jaw, a section of maxilla, three canines, a claw, two medial phalanges, and three metapodials. This specimen was a personal find and has been in our private collection for many years. This is easily one of the most rare specimens we have ever offered for sale.