8.1" Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) Dorsal Vertebra - Montana

Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) Dorsal Vertebra - Montana #145767

This is a dorsal vertebra of a Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) from the Hell Creek Formation of Glendive, Montana. There is a repaired crack through the upper 1/3 of the centrum, along with some fragmentation that required crack repair and gap fill restoration. Both of the pedicles required gap fill restoration to attach what remains of the processes to the centrum. The right (anatomically) anterior articular facet has been restored and all of the processes have broken/weathered away.

The entire vertebra measures 8.1 x 4.5 x 3.3". This specimen is accompanied by a custom metal display stand.

Hadrosaurs

are frequently referred to as duck-billed dinosaurs and are members of the Ornithischian family Hadrosauridae. They were fairly common herbivores that roamed Asia, Europe, and North America during the Upper Cretaceous Period. Many species of Hadrosaurs had distinctive crests on their heads, some of which had air-filled chambers that may have produced a distinct sound. These crests may have been used for both audio and visual display purposes.

Because of its age and sedimentary composition, the Hell Creek Formation has become one of the most paleontologically studied areas in the world. 158 genera of animals and 64 genera of plants are known from the formation and new discoveries are made frequently. In addition to Tyrannosaurs, Ceratopsids, and Hadrosaurs, the formation has yielded remains of amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes and turtles, fish and sharks, avian and non-avian dinosaurs, and mammals. The Hell Creek Formation gives the most complete understanding of the environment just before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.