Gastornis Eggshell

LIMITED AVAILABILITY: We only have a small selection of these fragments. Once they are gone it is hard to say when (or if) they will return. However, if the are sold out do sign up for email notifications and we will let you know as soon as more return to the nest! Above: Front of Specimen Card  Standing over 6 feet and 7 inches (2 m) with a massive skull and beak, Gastornis struck an intimidating profile over the small mammals of 50,000,000 years ago. Although the Gastornis’ 9 inch (22 cm) long beak may call to mind the terror birds of Cenozoic South America, it is unlikely that this bird was a savage predator. Gastornis lacked the physical characteristics that one might expect to see in a predator, such as a hooked beak or talons. In addition, modern isotopic dating reveals a geochemical makeup that matches with herbivores. It is more likely the large beak was used to tear apart dense plant matter and break open nuts rather than to consume small mammals. This specimen is a fragmen