Articulated Hadrosaur (Brachylophosaurus?) Vertebrae - Montana

This is a fascinating string of hadrosaur (Brachylophosaurus or Probrachylophosaurus) vertebrae, collected this past summer from the Judith River Formation of Montana. These vertebrae were found in close proximity, indicating that they're possibly from the same animal. They have been positioned in an articulated fashion on their accompanied custom metal display stand.

Because the two hadrosaur genera Brachylophosaurus and Probrachylophosaurus share such similar post-cranial anatomies, it is extremely difficult to identify which genus these particular specimens belong to.

Measurements:

Dimensions on stand - 11.5" long, 5.7" tall, 3.5" wide
Vertebra #1 - 4.1 x 3.5 x 3.4"
Vertebra #2 - 4.1 x 3.45 x 3.1"
Vertebra #3 - 4.05 x 3.1 x 2.9"

Each of these vertebrae have undergone some form of crack repair or gap fill restoration. Less than 10% of the bone present is restored, with amounts of restoration varying from bone to bone.

Brachylophosaurus was a Saurolophine Hadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous of western North America. As a Saurolophine, Brachylophosaurus was a quadrupedal herbivore with a duck-like snout and a battery of hundreds of chewing teeth for extensively grinding plant material. Brachylophosaurus is known for having a smaller and wider head than most other hadrosaurs of the time, and for having a small, flat crest over the back of its skull. The purpose of this crest is not quite known, but skull ornamentation is not uncommon in hadrosaurs. Like other hadrosaurs, Brachylophosaurus's forelimbs would have been enclosed in a fleshy "mitten", filling the role of hooves. As an inhabitant of the Judith River Formation, Brachylophosaurus would have formed groups to better defend themselves against predators, like the several species of Tyrannosaurid they shared their habitats with.

About the Judith River Formation

The Judith River Formation is one of the world's most prolific sources of Late Cretaceous vertebrate fossils. At least sixteen Orders containing more than forty Genera are known from the formation. These include fish, amphibians, mammals, and insects in addition to reptiles and avian (birds) and non-avian dinosaurs. Among the more interesting specimens is Leonardo, a mummified and fossilized Brachylophosaurus. This is a hadrosaur, a duck-billed dinosaur found with amazing soft-tissue preservation: skin impressions can be found on 90 percent of its body! The pattern in the skin on its feet is even preserved. In addition to Leonardo, the Judith River Formation contains the remains of the theropod Hesperornis, the only known freshwater Hespernorthid, a penguin-like bird.

View Jurassic World Fossils