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UNCOMMON DINOSAUR-ERA INTACT LEIDYSUCHUS CROCODILE TOOTH WITH ROOT FROM THE FAMOUS HELL CREEK FORMATION Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 96 - 66 million years ago Crocodiles lived right alongside some of the most dangerous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period. Some types attained much larger sizes than they do today. Crocodiles like Leidysuchus only attained lengths of just over 3 feet in the Hell Creek Formation, most likely due to the competition from monster, meat-eating dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Nanotyrannus along with packs of dromaeosaurs scavenging and hunting the swamps and creek beds where the crocodiles thrived. Regardless of size, prehistoric crocodiles would have been every bit as dangerous as any predatory dinosaur, though. This is an
uncommon specimen of ROOTED TOOTH of a Leidysuchus, the predominant crocodile found in
the Hell Creek Formation. The preservation and color are remarkable
and very well-preserved with no breaks. A beautiful and uncommon
fossil from the land of T. rex.
INTACT
WITH NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION.
A great addition to a well-diversified collection of prehistoric
dinosaurs and reptiles. The famous Hell Creek deposit in the Northwestern United States has been immortalized again and again on numerous TV documentaries as the "Valley of the T. rex". For its astonishing array of dangerous and large prehistoric predator fossils, no place has captured more attention or has been featured more in the news than Hell Creek! Fine grade fossils from this formation are amongst the most sought after specimens for collectors around the world. Most of the dinosaurs we grew up learning about as kids, come from Hell Creek. The modern crocodiles of today have remained unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs. Crocodiles belong to the family Crocodylidae. Although this family has existed since the upper Triassic Period, over 200 million years ago, reptiles which can definitely be classed as modern crocodiles only appear in the fossil record about 80 million years ago. The crocodile's eyes and nostrils are on top of the head so it can see and breathe while the rest of it is underwater. As an added advantage, its ears and nostrils can close when it dives, and a nictitating membrane (a transparent eyelid) closes over the eye to keep water out.
Although crocodiles look like alligators, they can be distinguished by their longer, narrower snout, and their fourth tooth, which sticks out from the lower jaw rather than fitting neatly into the upper jaw. The adults can reach lengths of over 10 feet and can weigh up to 1500 pounds. This is a rare fossil tooth from a massive crocodile which lived during the final days of the dinosaurs including during the time of T. rex. A fascinating and impressive specimen. RARE ROOTED LEIDYSUCHUS TOOTH OF SUPERB QUALITY AND PRESERVATION COLORS - LIVED ALONGSIDE T. REX! 1.25" long $185 CROC005 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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Crocodiles
swim mostly with their tails. Though their back feet are webbed, they
rarely use them underwater. On land, they use their powerful legs to
move around. They only look slow; Nile Crocodiles have been known to
"gallop" at speeds of about 30 miles an hour.