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RARE PARONYCHODON DROMAEOSAURID TOOTH FROM HELL CREEK

Hell Creek Formation - Southeast Montana, U.S.A.

LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD:  70 - 65 million years ago

This is a genuine fossil dinosaur tooth from a dromaeosaurid dinosaur that is elusive to science and little is known about.  It was named by Cope in 1876 from teeth found in the Judith River formation.  The species has been assigned as Paronychodon.  Only teeth have been found to date and other remains are unknown to scientists.  These teeth are highly unique with their distinct longitudinal ridges and fine serrations.  This specimen was legally collected on private ranchland from the famous Hell Creek Formation in the United States of America.  This region is famously known as the 'Valley of the T. rex' and was the chief territory of the massive T. rex dinosaurs when they were alive.   No doubt, these dinosaurs would have lived alongside the T. rex as they both coexisted in the Hell Creek Formation during the Late Cretaceous.

This tooth is a GRADE 10 example and cannot be improved.  It is intact with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION.  Color is natural and the classic dark brown hue that many fossil dinosaur teeth from Hell Creek possess.  Tip is complete (featuring slight natural feeding wear!) and all features are present and crisp.  Enamel is well-preserved and exhibits natural gloss which is original and exactly as found! 

Dromaeosaur dinosaurs were extremely fast and most likely a very smart and ferocious predator.  The sickle-shaped claws on each foot as well as the hand claws were very thin and dramatically curved.  Dromaeosaur 'raptor" bones were hollow, creating a very strong but lightweight frame for speed in running.  To many other creatures living in the midst of "raptor" dinosaurs, these were swift and deadly meat-eaters to avoid!

Dromaeosaurs are popularly known (especially in the movie "Jurassic Park") as "raptors", a group of fascinating extinct creatures.  Raptors ranged in size from the size of a  small dog on up to 30 feet long!  They are therapods that possessed specialized features: a well-developed slashing talon on their second toe, a stiffened tail, and large grasping hands.

The "killing claw" of raptors was a terrifying and incredibly efficient weapon.  As they moved, it was held off the ground.  When the muscles of the toe  were contracted, the claw swept down quickly, providing for a powerful slash that may have been able to disembowel prey swiftly.  The stiffened tail would have been good to stabilize the body while the grasping arms and jaws held onto the prey for balance.  It has been suggested that raptors could have performed leaps onto large prey and used all four limbs to rip wounds in them. 

Raptors were ferocious predators that some scientists believe hunted in packs and attacked much larger dinosaurs by slashing their underbellies.  It is also believed that they were similar to lions in predatory behavior, preferring ambushes and quick chases using their high maneuverability along with strategic pack-hunting tactics.  A human could be torn to shreds by a pack of raptors in less than 30 seconds.  

Dromaeosaur remains have been found in North America, Europe, North Africa, Japan, Mongolia and Argentina.

INTACT AND FINEST GRADE TOOTH FROM THIS ELUSIVE AND LITTLE KNOWN SPECIES - VERY RARE!

.4" long along the leading curve

SOLD     DT6-023     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

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THE HELL CREEK FORMATION OF NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.

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