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Rare 5.7" Tyrannosaurus rex (T-Rex) Toe Bone Fossil - Wyoming
This is an extraordinary 5.7" long toe bone (phalanx) from the legendary Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the most formidable predators to ever walk the Earth. Recovered from the Late Cretaceous Lance (Creek) Formation on a private ranch near Newcastle, Wyoming, this impressive specimen represents a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally well-preserved skeletal element from one of the world's most iconic dinosaurs.
The bone exhibits remarkable preservation, with beautifully defined anatomical features, crisp surface detail, and outstanding structural integrity. Authentic T. rex skeletal material is exceptionally scarce, and substantial, well-preserved individual bones such as this are particularly coveted. Its impressive size, exceptional condition, and unmistakable association with the most celebrated of all predatory dinosaurs make this a true museum-caliber specimen, worthy of a premier fossil collection.
The specimen is overwhelmingly original, with several professionally stabilized and repaired fractures. A small area of reconstruction is present along the proximal end, extending from the ventral edge around the anatomical left side. This restoration accounts for just 2–3% of the specimen, leaving approximately 97–98% original fossil bone. Such minimal restoration, combined with its exceptional preservation, further distinguishes this remarkable Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.
The bone exhibits remarkable preservation, with beautifully defined anatomical features, crisp surface detail, and outstanding structural integrity. Authentic T. rex skeletal material is exceptionally scarce, and substantial, well-preserved individual bones such as this are particularly coveted. Its impressive size, exceptional condition, and unmistakable association with the most celebrated of all predatory dinosaurs make this a true museum-caliber specimen, worthy of a premier fossil collection.
The specimen is overwhelmingly original, with several professionally stabilized and repaired fractures. A small area of reconstruction is present along the proximal end, extending from the ventral edge around the anatomical left side. This restoration accounts for just 2–3% of the specimen, leaving approximately 97–98% original fossil bone. Such minimal restoration, combined with its exceptional preservation, further distinguishes this remarkable Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.
About Tyrannosaurus rex
Perhaps the most famous of all dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex (abbreviated as T.rex, not T-Rex) was the largest terrestrial carnivore in North America 66 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period. Reaching adult sizes of 39-42 feet and 7-9 tons, this formidable predator was also one of the largest terrestrial carnivores to ever live, second only to the African Spinosaurus and possibly rivaled by the South American Giganotosaurus.
Tyrannosaurus was likely an opportunistic predator, hunting when it could and scavenging when it couldn't, using its fantastic senses of sight and smell to track potential meals. When it did need to hunt, it had a pair of powerful jaws full of 6-inch teeth that could deliver over 4 tons of pressure per square inch when they bit down. Their arms, by comparison, are infamously small.
Tyrannosaurus rex is known from an abundance of well-articulated specimens, including juveniles and subadults, so their growth patterns are well documented. It seems Tyrannosaurus grew relatively quickly, the first ten years reaching about a tenth of their adult size, then rapidly growing to their titanic adult forms in another ten. Based on growth signs in adult specimens, it would seem that Tyrannosaurs rarely lived to be more than thirty: most specimens died in their mid to late twenties. Based on pathologies of fossil bone, we can deduce that this was at least in part due to their dangerous adult lifestyle. Preying on well defended herbivores like Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and large Hadrosaurs would have been a difficult undertaking, and healed injuries on the bones of these herbivores show that the hunts were not always successful.
Nevertheless, this great predator was one of the largest and most fearsome of the carnivorous dinosaurs, and living at the end of their age, it comes as no surprise that it be dubbed such an imposing name as "Tyrant Lizard King".
Perhaps the most famous of all dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex (abbreviated as T.rex, not T-Rex) was the largest terrestrial carnivore in North America 66 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period. Reaching adult sizes of 39-42 feet and 7-9 tons, this formidable predator was also one of the largest terrestrial carnivores to ever live, second only to the African Spinosaurus and possibly rivaled by the South American Giganotosaurus.
Tyrannosaurus was likely an opportunistic predator, hunting when it could and scavenging when it couldn't, using its fantastic senses of sight and smell to track potential meals. When it did need to hunt, it had a pair of powerful jaws full of 6-inch teeth that could deliver over 4 tons of pressure per square inch when they bit down. Their arms, by comparison, are infamously small.
Tyrannosaurus rex is known from an abundance of well-articulated specimens, including juveniles and subadults, so their growth patterns are well documented. It seems Tyrannosaurus grew relatively quickly, the first ten years reaching about a tenth of their adult size, then rapidly growing to their titanic adult forms in another ten. Based on growth signs in adult specimens, it would seem that Tyrannosaurs rarely lived to be more than thirty: most specimens died in their mid to late twenties. Based on pathologies of fossil bone, we can deduce that this was at least in part due to their dangerous adult lifestyle. Preying on well defended herbivores like Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and large Hadrosaurs would have been a difficult undertaking, and healed injuries on the bones of these herbivores show that the hunts were not always successful.
Nevertheless, this great predator was one of the largest and most fearsome of the carnivorous dinosaurs, and living at the end of their age, it comes as no surprise that it be dubbed such an imposing name as "Tyrant Lizard King".
About The Lance Formation
The Lance Formation of eastern Wyoming is a Late Cretaceous (69–66 million years old) unit that represents the same geologic age as the famous Hell Creek Formation of Montana and the Dakotas. Although they are time-equivalent, the Lance and Hell Creek preserve subtly different environments. Hell Creek reflects a humid, forested coastal plain punctuated by volcanic ash deposits, while the Lance records a slightly drier, more open floodplain landscape with broader river systems and fewer ash layers. Together, they provide a complementary view of life in the final chapter of the dinosaur era.
Perhaps the most famous Lance resident would be Tyrannosaurus rex, the largest North American carnivore to ever live. However, other smaller theropods also roamed the American midwest in this subtropical coastal stream system, including the beaked Ornithomimus, a lanky running theropod with a build similar to a modern ostrich, as well as several small predatory troodonts such as Paronychodon and Pectinodon.
Herbivorous dinosaurs also took advantage of the abundance offered by this unique era. Armored ankylosaurs dwelt in herds, their safety assured by their numbers, their heavy bone plating protecting most of their bodies and even their eyelids, and huge bone clubs on the ends of their tails providing them with powerful offensive capabilities. Ceratopsians like the famous Triceratops also formed protective herds, guarding their necks with frills and horns. Their smaller relatives, the dome-headed pachycephalosaurs, were also well represented in the area. Hadrosaurs, duck-billed titans with huge batteries of plant-grinding teeth in elongated snouts, are also well known from the region.
In addition to dinosaurs, a wide variety of fishes, amphibians, lizards, snakes, turtles, champsosaurs, crocodilians, and pterosaurs have been found in the formation.
The Lance Formation of eastern Wyoming is a Late Cretaceous (69–66 million years old) unit that represents the same geologic age as the famous Hell Creek Formation of Montana and the Dakotas. Although they are time-equivalent, the Lance and Hell Creek preserve subtly different environments. Hell Creek reflects a humid, forested coastal plain punctuated by volcanic ash deposits, while the Lance records a slightly drier, more open floodplain landscape with broader river systems and fewer ash layers. Together, they provide a complementary view of life in the final chapter of the dinosaur era.
Perhaps the most famous Lance resident would be Tyrannosaurus rex, the largest North American carnivore to ever live. However, other smaller theropods also roamed the American midwest in this subtropical coastal stream system, including the beaked Ornithomimus, a lanky running theropod with a build similar to a modern ostrich, as well as several small predatory troodonts such as Paronychodon and Pectinodon.
Herbivorous dinosaurs also took advantage of the abundance offered by this unique era. Armored ankylosaurs dwelt in herds, their safety assured by their numbers, their heavy bone plating protecting most of their bodies and even their eyelids, and huge bone clubs on the ends of their tails providing them with powerful offensive capabilities. Ceratopsians like the famous Triceratops also formed protective herds, guarding their necks with frills and horns. Their smaller relatives, the dome-headed pachycephalosaurs, were also well represented in the area. Hadrosaurs, duck-billed titans with huge batteries of plant-grinding teeth in elongated snouts, are also well known from the region.
In addition to dinosaurs, a wide variety of fishes, amphibians, lizards, snakes, turtles, champsosaurs, crocodilians, and pterosaurs have been found in the formation.
$17,500
SPECIES
Tyrannosaurus rex
LOCATION
Private Ranch near Newcastle, Wyoming
FORMATION
Lance (Creek) Formation
SIZE
5.7 x 3.6 x 3.25"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#382411
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