Rare, 8.7" Stegosaurus Caudal Vertebra w/ Prong Morphology - Wyoming

Rare, Stegosaurus Caudal Vertebra w/ Prong Morphology - Wyoming #232733

This is a 8.7" tall Stegosaurus stenops anterior caudal (tail) vertebra, collected from the famous Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming. Anterior caudal vertebrae of Stegosaurus come in three categories; bar, lobe, and prong morphology. This vertebra shows "prong morphology" at the distal end of the spinous process. This vertebra is well prepared and comes with a custom metal stand for display.

Stegosaurus material can be hard to come by, especially material of this quality!

Measurements:
Vertebra - 8.7 x 3.25"
Height on stand - 11.1" tall

Restoration on this specimen is relatively minimal, primarily found in the form of gap fill restoration within repaired cracks. The most significant gap fill restoration is through the center of the vertebra (coronal plane) where it was found split in half within the ground. The restoration continues up through a portion of the vertebral arch. The prezygapophyses and postzygapophyses are natural and nicely intact. Repaired cracks can be found through the spinous process.

Mounted skeleton of a Stegosaurus in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Creative Commons License

Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs in the world due to its distinctive tail spikes and plates along its back. So far, 3 species have been described from the Upper Morrison Formation, and it has been in the news quite a bit lately due to "Sophie" the Stegosaurus at the London Natural History Museum. Stegosaurus is the state fossil of Colorado.

The Bone Cabin Quarry has historical significance because it was discovered in 1897 and excavated by the American Museum of Natural History from 1898 through 1905. It lies near the famous Como Bluff and got its name from a nearby sheepherder's cabin built entirely out of fossil dinosaur bones. This quarry now lies on private land, where it continues to be excavated.

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