ODDITIES - THE DINOSAUR STORE

TSANTSA SHRUNKEN HEADS Our shrunken head replicas are made in Ecuador by indigenous artisans, crafted from animal skins using traditional methods. A Tsantsa, or shrunken head, is a specially prepared human head that was used for a trophy, ritual, or trade by the Jivaroan people of Ecuador and Peru. The practice of preparing shrunken heads originally had religious significance. The shrunken head of an enemy was believed to harness the spirit of that enemy, compelling him to serve the shrinker. It was said to prevent the soul from avenging death, the eyes and mouths were sewn shut.
Tsantsa #1 Lighter red colored hair with red, brown and white wooden bead decoration $49.99	Tsantsa #2 Dark brown hair and skin with white and brown wooden bead decoration $49.99	Tsantsa #3 Dark brown hair and beard with lighter streaks and dark skin with white and brown wooden bead decoration $59.99

	Modern Badger Skulls Skulls measure approximately 5" l x 3-1/2" w x 3" h. $69. Each
	Badgers are short-legged, heavy-set omnivores in the weasel family. Badgers can be fierce animals and will protect themselves and their young at all costs. Badgers are capable of fighting off much larger animals such as wolves and bears.
	Modern Beaver Skulls Skulls measure approximately 4-1/2" l x 3-1/2" w x 3-1/2" h $59 Each
	The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Beavers are known for their natural trait of building dams on rivers and streams, and building their homes, known as lodges, in the resulting pond. They are known for their alarm signal: when startled or frightened, a swimming beaver will rapidly dive while forcefully slapping the water with its broad tail, audible over great distances above and below water.
	Modern Woodchuck Skulls Skulls measure approximately 3-3/4" l x 2-1/2" h x 2-1/2" w $59. Each
	The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Groundhogs are one of the few species that enter into true hibernation, and often build a separate "winter burrow" for this purpose. The etymology of the name woodchuck is unrelated to wood or chucking. It stems from an Algonquian name for the animal, wuchak. The similarity between the words has led to the common tongue-twister.
	Modern Coyote Skulls Skulls measure approximately 7-3/4" l x 4" h x 3-3/4" w $69. Each
	The coyote, also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America. Though coyotes have been observed to travel in large groups, they primarily hunt in pairs. Typical packs consist of six closely related adults, yearlings and young. Coyote packs are generally smaller than wolf packs and associations between individuals are less stable. In areas where wolves have been exterminated, coyotes usually flourish. For example, as New England became increasingly settled and the resident wolves were eliminated, the coyote population increased, filling the empty ecological niche. Coyotes appear better able than wolves to live among people.
	Modern African Cat Skull Caracal caracal Measures 5-3/4" x 4" x 4" $199.
	The Caracal is classified as a small cat, yet is amongst the heaviest of all small cats, as well as the quickest. Although it has traditionally had the alternative names Persian Lynx, Egyptian Lynx and African Lynx, The Caracal is no longer considered to be an actual lynx. Instead, it is now believed to be closely related to the African golden cat and the serval. Caracals are nocturnal and solitary by nature. They hunt at night and will eat almost anything they can catch. They have even been known to attack sitting ostriches! These small, agile cats are known for their amazing jumping abilities, sometimes leaping as high as 10 feet off the ground.
	Modern Mountain Lion Skull Puma concolor Measures 7" x 5" x 5" $550.
	The mountain lion, also known as puma, cougar, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a large, solitary cat native to the Americas. They have the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from the Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. The Mountain Lion is found in every major American habitat type. Although large, the mountain lion is most closely related to smaller felines and is closer genetically to the domestic cat than to true lions.
	Modern Timber Wolf Skull *Canis lupus* Measures 11" x 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" $599.
	Timber wolves, also known as gray wolves, are highly intelligent social hunters. Living together in packs, they hunt, play and raise their young together. Packs have well defined dominance hierarchies, and wolves communicate their status through complex facial expressions and other body language. The alpha, or highest ranking, male and female normally prevent other pack members from breeding, and the alpha female receives assistance from other members of the pack who guard her young while she hunts
	Modern Snapping Turtle Skull Chelydra serpentina Measures 4" x 2-1/2" x 2"
	The snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida and as far southwest as northeastern Mexico. Common snappers are noted for their belligerent disposition when out of the water, their powerful beak-like jaws, and their highly mobile head and neck. In some areas they are hunted very heavily for their meat, a popular ingredient in turtle soup. These turtles have lived for up to 47 years in captivity, while the lifespan of wild individuals is estimated to be around 30 years

Large Baltic Amber Skull

Skull measures 5" long x 4" high

$299.

The most well known and sought after amber is Baltic amber, named for the geographic location from where it is mined. A unique property of Baltic amber is that it softens and becomes malleable at a temperature of 140-200*C in an air-tight environment, making it possible to join together small, irregular grains into large forms that can be used for sculpture and jewelry.

Small Baltic Amber Skull

Skull measures 4" long x 3" high

$199.

Cast Bronze Skull

Skull measures 8" long x 5-1/4" high

$159.

Skull symbolism is the attachment of symbolic meaning to the human skull. The most common symbolic use of the skull is as a representation of death and mortality. However, to some ancient societies it is believed to have had the opposite association, where objects like crystal skulls represent "life": the honoring of humanity in the flesh and the embodiment of consciousness.

Humboldt Squid Beaks

The Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas, also known as jumbo squid, jumbo flying squid, pota or diablo rojo (Spanish for 'Red Devil'), is a large, predatory squid found in the waters of the Humboldt Current in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are most commonly found at depths of 660 to 2,300 ft, from Tierra del Fuego to California. Research suggests that Humboldt squid are only aggressive while feeding. Their behavior while feeding often extends to cannibalism and they have been seen to readily attack injured or vulnerable squid of their own shoal. There are numerous accounts of the squid attacking fishermen and divers in the waters around Peru and Mexico. Their colouring and aggressive reputation has earned them the nickname diablos rojos, Red Devils, from fishermen off the coast of Mexico as they flash red and white when struggling with the fishermen.

Humboldt Squid Beaks

Beaks Measure approximately 3" long

The Humboldt squid is a cephalopod that lives in deep waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It is very aggressive and will even attack sharks in the water. They often approach prey quickly with all ten appendages extended forward. Upon reaching striking distance, the squid will extend its two longer grasping tentacles covered in sharp teeth-like barbs. It will grab its prey with these tentacles and pull it back toward its parrot-like beak, which it will then use to tear the prey for consumption.

$99. Each

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