3.7" Ceratopsian Dinosaur Caudal Vertebra - Judith River Formation

Ceratopsian Dinosaur Caudal Vertebra - Judith River Formation #145679

This is a 3.7" tall fossil Ceratopsian dinosaur caudal (tail) vertebra, found in the Judith River Formation in Montana. The edges and ventral side of the centrum are weathered, revealing the nicely preserved bone matrix. There is a repaired crack through each of the pedicles, with gap fill restoration to one. The processes broke away and weren't recovered.

This vertebra measures 2.8" wide by 3.7" tall and is accompanied by a custom metal display stand (pictured).

Within the Judith River Group there are multiple Ceratopsid genera and species, so with just a single bone or tooth they are hard to differentiate and give a definitive identification.

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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