20.15" Fossil Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) Right Humerus - South Dakota

Fossil Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) Right Humerus - South Dakota #192629

This is a 20.15" long Hadrosaur (Edmontosaurus) right humerus bone, collected from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota.

Starting with the proximal end, the articular head of the humerus has undergone some restoration in spots, however the majority of it is natural. The deltopectoral crest was found separated from the rest of the bone, requiring some gap fill restoration in spots where the bone had crumbled away. Crack repair and spots of gap fill restoration continue throughout the diaphysis as you approach the distal epiphysis. The majority of the restoration can be found at the distal end, where both the radial and ulnar condyles have almost entirely been restored.

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.

The Hell Creek Formation

Renowned for both its age and rich sedimentary layers, the Hell Creek Formation is one of the most intensively studied fossil-bearing regions on Earth. To date, scientists have documented 158 genera of animals and 64 genera of plants from its rocks, with new finds emerging regularly. Beyond iconic dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurs, ceratopsians, and hadrosaurs, the formation has produced an extraordinary array of life, including amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, fish, sharks, birds, and early mammals. Together, these fossils provide the most complete picture of the ecosystems that thrived just before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

More about Hadrosaurs