{"product_id":"bone-valley-fossil-dugong-vertebra","title":"Fossil Dugong Vertebra","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeautifully preserved prehistoric dugong vertebra, with the body naturally shaped like a heart. Nearly perfect and rarely offered, this 30-million-year-old fossil comes from an ancient marine mammal that once grazed seagrass beds in Florida's warm coastal waters during the Oligocene epoch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003ePrehistoric dugongs were once widespread and common in ancient seas, including what is now Florida. Fossil remains of dugongs—especially from the Dugongidae family—have been found in several locations across Florida, dating back to the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (roughly 5 to 20 million years ago). These prehistoric relatives were part of a diverse group of sirenians, which included not only dugongs but also now-extinct sea cows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eNotable fossil locations in Florida:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBone Valley Formation (Central Florida): Rich in marine fossils, including dugong ribs and vertebrae.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCalvert Formation (along the Atlantic coast, extends into other states but has Florida analogs): Known for sirenian fossils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003ePeace River: A popular fossil hunting site where dugong rib fossils (often mistaken for \"petrified wood\") are commonly found.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTampa Bay area: Miocene marine sediments have yielded dugong fossils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eFlorida phosphate mines: Known for exceptional fossil preservation, including dugong material.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSuwannee Formation (North\/Central Florida): An Oligocene-age marine deposit that has yielded well-preserved sirenian material, including dugong bones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003ePrehistoric dugong bones, especially the dense, compact ribs (called pachyostotic ribs), are commonly found by fossil hunters in Florida's rivers and quarries. These bones helped the animals stay neutrally buoyant while grazing on seafloor vegetation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50806316728460,"sku":"4094","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0621\/3697\/5500\/files\/20230924-DSC03986.jpg?v=1781798573","url":"https:\/\/fossilsonline.com\/products\/bone-valley-fossil-dugong-vertebra","provider":"Fossils Online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}