1.31" Rooted Ceratopsian Dinosaur Tooth - Judith River Formation

This is an exceptionally well preserved, rooted ceratopsian (Chasmosaurus?) dinosaur tooth collected this summer from the Judith River Formation of Montana. It's pretty rare to get rooted teeth, and this one is a beauty. While there are several ceratopsians described from this formation, the size makes Chasmosaurus the most likely candidate. There is a natural fracture through the crown, however there is no indication of any repair.


Ceratopsians are a group of plant-eating dinosaurs from the Cretaceous characterized by a bony frill on the back of the skull and a unique upper beak bone, called a rostral. Ceratopsians ranged in size from 1 meter (3 ft) and 23 kilograms (50 lb) to over 9 meters (30 ft) and 9,100 kg (20,100 lb). Triceratops is by far the best-known ceratopsian to the general public.

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 and non-avian dinosaurs (birds). 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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DETAILS
SPECIES
Chasmosaurus sp.?
LOCATION
Hill County, Montana
FORMATION
Judith River Formation
SIZE
1.31" long (straightline)
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#225852
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