4.4" Ornithomimus Caudal Vertebra - Montana

Ornithomimus Caudal Vertebra - Montana #114434

This is a 4.4" fossil theropod dinosaur (Ornithomimus) caudal vertebra from the Hell Creek Formation, Montana. It is in very good condition and includes the vertebral arch and the right transverse process. There are a number of repaired cracks, but the bone is stable and makes a very nice display.

Ornithomimus was a swift bipedal theropod that slightly resembled an ostrich: fossil evidence suggests that it was covered in feathers. It had a small toothless beak and clawed front appendages, indicating an omnivorous diet that likely included leaves, insects, fruits, and small mammals or lizards. It is estimated that they could reach upwards of 30 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour).

An artist's rendering of Ornithomimus. Creative Commons License, By Tom Parker

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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