.97" Serrated Theropod Tooth - North Dakota

This is a .97" long theropod tooth likely from Nanotyrannus lancensis. It was collected this past summer from the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota. Much of the enamel is missing but otherwise it's a nice looking tooth.

Often these smaller Tyrannosaur teeth from the Hell Creek Formation get labeled as being Dromaeosaur (Raptor) teeth based on their size, but many (such as this one) likely represent juvenile Tyrannosaurs.

There is a hot debate among paleontologists about whether Nanotyrannus and Tyrannosaurus rex (T-Rex) are really the same species, with Nanotyrannus representing juveniles. Recent finds that are soon to be published should put this debate to rest, definitively proving that Nanotyrannus is in fact a separate genus and valid genus. Nano teeth tend to be much more finely serrated, and much thinner/blade like t-rex teeth, in addition to being smaller.