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ULTRA RARE PACHYCEPHALOSAUR DINOSAUR DORSAL VERTEBRA Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 72 - 65 million years ago We have to preface this listing with the following statement because it is getting worse with each passing year, it seems. The misidentification of DINOSAUR FOSSILS is one of the most problematic facets of the fossil trade. Most often, fossils of very common creatures are pawned off as being from some interesting dinosaur simply to make them more desirable to collectors and to sell them at much higher prices than if properly listed. For example, it is quite common to offer fossil crocodile vertebrae from the Sahara Desert as being from this dinosaur and that dinosaur but to say they are fossil crocodile vertebrae suddenly would make them much less valuable and they ARE much less valuable than say, Spinosaurus or Carcharodontosaurus, etc.. We have even seen vertebra and bones being sold as having come from all these different species of dinosaurs from the Sahara when in fact, ALL were much less valuable and common crocodile fossil remains. Claws are no different. There has been numerous instances of dealers with fossil TURTLE claws being sold as Raptor (dromaeosaur) claws for incredibly high sums of money. After all, people would never pay for a turtle claw what they would pay for a Raptor claw. There are anatomical differences to compare bones and claws to the proper dinosaurs so it is possible to make the proper classifications. Be vigilant and informed. Research what you collect and most importantly, know your supplier!
It is important to
emphasize this because this vertebra we are offering is extremely rare
and its proper classification is critical based on its value.
While teeth are rare from this dinosaur, fossil bones are
extremely rare and seldom found. This is a dorsal vertebra
from a PACHYCEPHALOSAUR dinosaur from the Hell Creek Formation. It
is extremely well-mineralized and has repair along with stabilized
cracks but there is
NO FABRICATION or even filling of cracks.
This specimen has been kept exactly as found and is truly 'scientific
grade'. The difference in color is a result of part of the fossil
being exposed for an extended time and the darker portion being buried.
To reference the proper identification of this ultra rare specimen,
please see a similar specimen but with its processes here
http://www.wmnh.com/wmtr21.htm.
The specimen being offered here is with some partial portions of the
spines but without most of the spine processes. There is enough of
the anatomy of this specimen present and intact to properly attribute it
to the correct dinosaur without question. Nevertheless, this is a
rare offering and
one that we likely would not repeat. This is THE FIRST vertebra we
have ever offered from this rare dinosaur. It is highly
recommended for any advanced dinosaur fossil collector.
All pachycephalosaurs were bipedal, plant-eating ornithischians that possessed a very thick-boned dome in the top of their skulls. The height of the dome varies amongst species as does the ornamentation to the skull. Variations include spikes, knobs and bony frills to different regions of the head. All had five-fingered hands, three-toed feet and a long, stiff tail for balance. There are two schools of thought as to why these amazing creatures had the thick bone dome to the top of their skulls. Some scientists believe pachycephalosaurs butted heads like modern day rams do. Others counter that the skull and bones were not designed for such impact.
The most identifiable isolated finds of pachycephalosaur dinosaur fossils are the fronto-parietal bone skull domes which are rare but occasionally found. Teeth are also found in microsites. Post-cranial pachycephalosaur fossils remains are very rare. Pachycephalosaur remains have been found in North America, England, Madagascar, China and Mongolia. AN ULTRA-RARE FOSSIL VERTEBRA IN EXCELLENT PRESERVATION AND MOSTLY COMPLETE AS FOUND 2.75" tall SOLD DB20-001 Actual Item - One Only |
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1395 |
PACHYCEPHALOSAURS
are most famous for their thick, bony skull caps for which they are named.
They are a bizarre group of herbivorous dinosaurs that lived during the
end of the Cretaceous Period. Pachycephalosaurs include several
different species that range in size from 3 feet to 26 feet in length.
The largest of these dinosaurs is the species Pachycephalosaurus.
Mountain
sheep ram each other with their large horns but they have air spaces in
the front of their skull to absorb the shock of impact, pachycephalosaurs
do not and the bony dome is solid all the way to the brain.
Head-butting with such a skull would send severe shocks to the brain that
would likely cause damage to the organ. Possibly, shock was diverted
to the neck vertebra by off-center blows but the overall graceful nature
of the skeletal structure suggests that these were not robust, fighting
creatures.
The
elaborate head ornamentation and bony dome of pachycephalosaurs might have
served as mere decoration for mating and other social behavior needs.
One species known as Stygimoloch, had horns at the rear of the skull that
grew up to 4 inches long. Clearly, these were more ornamental than
practical weapons. One compromising theory is that like bulls, these
dinosaurs met heads in a challenge of pushing rather than ramming.
