.48" Raptor (Saurornitholestes) Dinosaur Tooth - Montana

Raptor (Saurornitholestes) Dinosaur Tooth - Montana #200265

This is a pristine, .48" long dromaeosaurid theropod (Saurornitholestes sp.) dinosaur tooth, collected from the Judith River Formation of Montana. The preservation of the enamel and serrations is phenomenal, and the tooth has been partially exposed from the rock it was found in.

Due to the variety of theropod species that come out of the Judith River Formation, it can be difficult to assign a specific species to teeth. That being said, based on serration shape, size, and general tooth shape, the best candidate is Saurornitholestes langstoni.

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.

About Dinosaur Teeth