.35" Rooted Ankylosaur (Zuul) Tooth - Judith River Formation

This is a really nice, .35" long, rooted Ankylosaur tooth from the Judith River Formation of Montana. On first glance it looks very similar to the more common Nodosaur teeth found there. There is currently a single described Ankylosaur from the Judith River Formation, Zuul crurivastator.

In 2014, the most complete ankylosaur to be found within the Judith River Formation was discovered accidentally when excavating a potential gorgosaurus. This ankylosaur (described as Zuul crurivastator) was found slightly disarticulated, but mummified and nearly complete. The preservation of this Ankylosaur included extremely rare soft tissue and in situ skin impressions. This discovery provided an excellent reference skeleton for other fragmentary ankylosaur specimens, as well as some insight into the epidermal anatomy of ankylosaurids.

Skull of Zuul crurivastator, collected in 2014 from the Judith River Formation of Montana
Skull of Zuul crurivastator, collected in 2014 from the Judith River Formation of Montana


Ankylosaurs were herbivorous dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous and evolved complete body armor covered in plates, scutes, and spikes. They wielded a massive tail club which could have been used to defensive purposes against predators such as Tyrannosaurs. Adult Ankylosaurs are believed to have reached up to 25 feet in length.

An artists depictions of Zuul crurivastator.  By ABelov2014. Creative Commons License
An artists depictions of Zuul crurivastator. By ABelov2014. Creative Commons License


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Zuul crurivastator?
LOCATION
Hill County, Montana
FORMATION
Judith River Formation
SIZE
.35" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#144892
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