2.2" Theropod (Struthiomimus?) Phalange - Judith River Formation

Theropod (Struthiomimus?) Phalange - Judith River Formation #123519

This is a very nice, 2.2", Theropod phalange (toe bone) from the Judith River Formation, Montana. The bone is in very good condition with some compact (cortical) bone worn away. It is the third phalange, of the middle toe, of the left foot. This is the bone that engages the ungual (claw).

There are a number of theropods from the Judith River Formation and specific identification from an isolated toe bone is highly problematic, though a likely candidate is Struthiomimus.

The Judith River Formation is one of the world's most prolific sources of Late Cretaceous vertebrate fossils. At least sixteen Orders containing more than forty Genera are known from the formation. These include fish, amphibians, mammals, and insects in addition to reptiles and avian (birds) and non-avian dinosaurs. Among the more interesting specimens is Leonardo, a mummified and fossilized Brachylophosaurus. This is a hadrosaur, a duck-billed dinosaur found with amazing soft-tissue preservation: skin impressions can be found on 90 percent of its body! The pattern in the skin on its feet is even preserved. In addition to Leonardo, the Judith River Formation contains the remains of the theropod Hesperornis, the only known freshwater Hespernorthid, a penguin-like bird.

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