1.7" Long Thescelosaurus? Caudal Vertebra - Montana

This is a 1.7" long caudal vertebra from the Hell Creek Formation of Eastern Montana. Sometimes identifying isolated bones can extremely difficult. We are about 80% sure this one is Thescelosaurus, but left a question mark on it just in case. The vert is solid, with only some minor erosion and no repair or restoration.

Thescelosaurus was a small ornithopod dinosaur that appeared at the very end of the Late Cretaceous period in North America. The preservation and completeness of many of its specimens indicate that it may have preferred to live near streams.

This bipedal ornithopod is known from several partial skeletons and skulls that indicate it grew to between 2.5 and 4.0 meters (8.2 to 13.1 ft) in length on average. It had sturdy hind limbs, small wide hands, and a head with an elongate pointed snout. The form of the teeth and jaws suggest a primarily herbivorous animal.

Thescelosaurus was a heavily built bipedal animal, probably herbivorous, but possibly omnivorous. It would have browsed in the first meter or so from the ground, feeding selectively, with food held in the mouth by cheeks while chewing.