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DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" TOOTH - Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 70 - 65 million years ago This is a genuine serrated fossil dinosaur tooth from a dromaeosaur "raptor" dinosaur. It 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, this raptor tooth came from a dromaeosaur dinosaur that surely would have lived alongside the T. rex as they both coexisted in the Hell Creek Formation during the Late Cretaceous. In the opening scene of Jurassic Park II, a small girl wanders away from her parents on a beach and promptly gets mauled by a herd of small dromaeosaurs no larger than chickens. This tooth came from a dromaeosaur exactly like those depicted in that scene. This tooth is a perfectly preserved and complete example that 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 and serrations are present and crisp. Enamel is well-preserved and exhibits natural gloss which is original and exactly as found!
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.
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 FINE GRADE RAPTOR TOOTH FROM THE VALLEY OF THE T. REX! .35" long along the leading curve SOLD DT6-033 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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THE HELL CREEK FORMATION OF NORTHWESTERN U.S.A. |
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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!
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. 
