.32" Fossil Dinosaur (Leptoceratops) Shed Tooth - Montana

This is a .32" long tooth from the elusive ceratopsian dinosaur, Leptoceratops gracilis. It was collected from our partner's private lease on the Hell Creek Formation in Montana.

Leptoceratops gracilis is the only Leptoceratopsid (previously protoceratopsid) found in North America. Like Triceratops, they shed teeth during their lifetime and collectors often refer to these teeth as "spitters". This "spitter" has a polished upper surface indicative of a lot of wear from grinding food.

Comes with an acrylic display case.

About Leptoceratops

Leptoceratops was a small, primitive genus of ceratopsian dinosaur whose name literally means "small-horn face" despite the fact it did not have any horns. It reached lengths of about two meters and appears to have had the characteristics of a bipedal dinosaur, likely being able to stand and run on its back legs. However, even though they weren't able to pronate their "hands", it's likely they could walk on all four legs. As with other ceratopsians it has a parrot-like beak and was probably able to chew very tough vegetation.

An artists reconstruction of Leptoceratops.  By Nobu Tamura
An artists reconstruction of Leptoceratops. By Nobu Tamura

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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Leptoceratops gracilis
LOCATION
Montana
FORMATION
Hell Creek Formation
SIZE
.32" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#338976
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.