Hipopótamo malgache - fragmento de mandíbula con molares incrustados - Hippopotamus lemerlei - 10×7×7 cm

Right jawbone of a senior specimen of Malagasy hippopotamus.
Malagasy hippopotamus lived on the island of Madagascar but are now believed to be extinct. The animals were very similar to the extant hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus. The fossil record suggests that at least one species of hippopotamus lived until about 1.000 years ago.
The skull of H. lemerlei resembled that of the modern hippopotamus, but with consistent size differences, indicating that H. lemerlei was a sexually dimorphic species. Although no fossil evidence has been dated within the last 1.000 years, the hippopotamus has been surprisingly common in the oral legends of the Malagasy.

Total height with stand: 17 cm
Jawbone weight: 230 g