GREEN RIVER, WYOMING

Details

A PRIMITIVE FOSSIL PARROT
GREEN RIVER, WYOMING
Cyrilavis sp. from the Eocene (circa 50 million years ago) with skull in facsimile and complete body

8½ x 7½in. (21.5 x 19.5cm.)

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Lot Essay

It is only in the last 30 years that the evolutionary history of parrots has been well studied, they had previously been thought to have the least complete fossil record amongst the birds. The present specimen is from an early stem group of parrots, before the development of their feeding specializations and distinctive curved beaks.

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