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6.7" Fossil Theropod Dinosaur (Allosaurus) Dorsal Vertebra - Wyoming
This is a 6.7" tall fossil theropod dinosaur (Allosaurus fragilis) dorsal vertebra centrum, collected from the famous Bone Cabin Quarry in Carbon County, Wyoming. The neural canal remained intact, as well as the majority of the centrum.
It is accompanied by the pictured custom metal display stand.
There are multiple repaired cracks through the vertebra and it has undergone some natural crushing and warping over the millions of years beneath the surface. The gap fill required to piece the bone back together makes up less than 5% of the specimen.
It is accompanied by the pictured custom metal display stand.
There are multiple repaired cracks through the vertebra and it has undergone some natural crushing and warping over the millions of years beneath the surface. The gap fill required to piece the bone back together makes up less than 5% of the specimen.
About Allosaurus
Allosaurus was a genus of carnosaurian theropod that lived from 156 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic. Allosaurus species were predators with massive skulls, serrated teeth, and gaping jaws. This powerful and plentiful carnivore genus could grow more than 30 feet long. Their fossils are abundant in the Morrison Formation, leading some to suggest that Allosaurus species may have been pack hunters.
Allosaurus was a genus of carnosaurian theropod that lived from 156 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic. Allosaurus species were predators with massive skulls, serrated teeth, and gaping jaws. This powerful and plentiful carnivore genus could grow more than 30 feet long. Their fossils are abundant in the Morrison Formation, leading some to suggest that Allosaurus species may have been pack hunters.
The Bone Cabin Quarry has historical significance because it was discovered in 1897 and excavated by the American Museum of Natural History from 1898 through 1905. It lies near the famous Como Bluff and got its name from a nearby sheepherder's cabin built entirely out of fossil dinosaur bones. This quarry now lies on private land, where it continues to be excavated.
About The Morrison Formation
Located in the midwestern United States, the Late Jurassic-aged Morrison Formation is an incredibly large and fossiliferous formation that dates back to about 156 to 147 million years old. Named after the small town of Morrison, Colorado, the formation was discovered in 1877, and quickly became the center of one of the biggest rivalries in historical paleontology.
19th century paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope spent 15 years making outstanding strides in the discovery of fossils all throughout the American Midwest, but also resorted to unsavory methods in attempts to discredit or ruin the other's work and reputation, including destruction of specimens.
The total area of the formation is roughly 600,000 square miles, but much of that is inaccessible, deeply buried under prairie land and eroded during the formation of the Rocky Mountains. Even so, many outcroppings across the Front Range and upper Midwest allow paleontologists access to a wealth of information from Late Jurassic North America.
Dinosaurs from the region include large allosaurid dinosaurs, such as the eponymous Allosaurus and its larger relative Saurophaganax. Both exceeded 30 feet in length, making them some of the largest carnivores of their time. They competed with the similarly large megalosaurid Torvosaurus, and the somewhat smaller horned ceratosaurid, Ceratosaurus. On the smaller end of the theropod family tree was the raptor-like Ornitholestes.
For herbivores, Stegosaurus guarded their herds with huge, intimidating backplates and formidable tail spikes. Small, early ankylosaurs like Gargoyleosaurus would have fed on the forested understory, smaller in size than the 30+ foot giant Stegosaurids.
However, the Morrison Formation's main attraction were the giant sauropod dinosaurs, some of the most colossal of dinosaurs and largest land animals of all time. Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Barosaurus, and Supersaurus all count themselves among these long-necked titans. None of these herbivores would have been less than 50 feet in length at adult size: the largest of their number would have exceeded 100-115 feet in length, and over 40 tons. For so many sauropods to have lived in roughly the same place and time, they all likely developed different feeding and living strategies to minimize competition. Their massive sizes and herds would have defended them well from any of the numerous predators of the Morrison.
Located in the midwestern United States, the Late Jurassic-aged Morrison Formation is an incredibly large and fossiliferous formation that dates back to about 156 to 147 million years old. Named after the small town of Morrison, Colorado, the formation was discovered in 1877, and quickly became the center of one of the biggest rivalries in historical paleontology.
19th century paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope spent 15 years making outstanding strides in the discovery of fossils all throughout the American Midwest, but also resorted to unsavory methods in attempts to discredit or ruin the other's work and reputation, including destruction of specimens.
The total area of the formation is roughly 600,000 square miles, but much of that is inaccessible, deeply buried under prairie land and eroded during the formation of the Rocky Mountains. Even so, many outcroppings across the Front Range and upper Midwest allow paleontologists access to a wealth of information from Late Jurassic North America.
Dinosaurs from the region include large allosaurid dinosaurs, such as the eponymous Allosaurus and its larger relative Saurophaganax. Both exceeded 30 feet in length, making them some of the largest carnivores of their time. They competed with the similarly large megalosaurid Torvosaurus, and the somewhat smaller horned ceratosaurid, Ceratosaurus. On the smaller end of the theropod family tree was the raptor-like Ornitholestes.
For herbivores, Stegosaurus guarded their herds with huge, intimidating backplates and formidable tail spikes. Small, early ankylosaurs like Gargoyleosaurus would have fed on the forested understory, smaller in size than the 30+ foot giant Stegosaurids.
However, the Morrison Formation's main attraction were the giant sauropod dinosaurs, some of the most colossal of dinosaurs and largest land animals of all time. Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Barosaurus, and Supersaurus all count themselves among these long-necked titans. None of these herbivores would have been less than 50 feet in length at adult size: the largest of their number would have exceeded 100-115 feet in length, and over 40 tons. For so many sauropods to have lived in roughly the same place and time, they all likely developed different feeding and living strategies to minimize competition. Their massive sizes and herds would have defended them well from any of the numerous predators of the Morrison.
$2,495
SPECIES
Allosaurus fragilis
LOCATION
Bone Cabin Quarry, Carbon County, Wyoming
FORMATION
Morrison Formation
SIZE
Bone: 6.7 x 5.2 x 4.2"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#356888
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