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Fossilized walrus penis sells for $8,000
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- A fossilized penis bone from an extinct walrus isn't the usual kind of artifact to hang above the mantel.

Maybe that's why it sold at auction for $8,000, far below the expected price.

The 4½-foot-long item, covered with weathered skin and dry muscle tissue, was sold to the company that runs the Ripley's Believe It or Not museums, said Josh Chait, director of operations for the I.M. Chait Gallery, his family's auction house.

"Their corporate office bought it and they'll probably display it around the country," he said.

There were only three bidders and the contest lasted only a couple of minutes, Chait said. ``Only a limited number of people really want it,'' Chait acknowledged.

The price will run $9,600 when auction fees are included. ``I thought it was a bargain,'' said Chait. It had been expected to fetch $12,000 to $16,000.

The fossilized baculum, or penis bone, is from a species of walrus that went extinct 12,000 years ago. It was found preserved in permafrost in northern Siberia.

The auction house said it was believed to be the largest known mammal penis fossil.

``I'm glad it's going to a museum and not a private collection'' so it can on public display, Chait said. ``It's definitely something everyone should see once in their life.''

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Reader comments on this story - 15 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to: yup wrote on Aug 29, 2007 5:46 PM:

" Driving one-handed again?? "

yup wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:28 PM:

" I don't have to be fossilized to donate my organ.... it's got low miles and I only drove it on saturday nights! "

In the money wrote on Aug 29, 2007 11:50 AM:

" Wow, I didn't realize how much you could get for a fossilized penis. I've been married 25 years now, I think mine probably qualifies. "

they printed an article wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:35 PM:

" with the word penis and bone in it "

Casey wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:20 PM:

" You guys are funny! LMAO! "

FYI wrote on Aug 28, 2007 10:21 AM:

" Wow, now that's one bad case of priapism. I could've carved any kind/size they wanted from a piece of rock/wood for much less. "

Finally! wrote on Aug 28, 2007 10:17 AM:

" Some news that is interesting! "

Viagra super-size wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:05 AM:

" Oh, that's not fossilized. "

umm wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:17 AM:

" wait till i die, i bet you it will fetch double that! "

Candy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:02 AM:

" Only a man could enjoy something like this. As they say the only difference between a MAN and a Boy IS THE PRICE of his TOYS. "

Ladies! wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:55 AM:

" Get your replica here! "

John wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:59 PM:

" "glass onion" may have implyed that the "walrus" was paul however John wrote and sang lead on "I am the Walrus." And the fool on the hill is living there still. "

bert wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:06 PM:

" I guess that's giving the grizzly a run for his money "

Ooops wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:17 PM:

" I thought this was another story about Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "

Paul wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:59 PM:

" I am the eggman, I am the walrus, goo goo boo joob. "
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