FOSSILIZED 22 INCH ARTICULATED VERTEBRAL COLUMN FROM A VELOCIRAPTORINE DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" DINOSAUR FROM HELL CREEK

Hell Creek - Butte County, South Dakota, U.S.A.

LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD:  96 - 66 million years ago

Articulated fossils of any creature are very rare but from dromaeosaurs, it is an extraordinarily rare event.  This is not a beautiful or aesthetic fossil but it is an incredibly rare and impressive specimen, nonetheless and if you are knowledgeable in dromaeosaur fossils, you will realize just how scarce a find like this can be.  In this specimen, there are ELEVEN partial or complete caudal ARTICULATED AS FOUND vertebrae from the same single dromaeosaur 'raptor' dinosaur of Velociraptorine proportions.  The specimen was collected from the famous Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, USA.  The vertebrae have been kept as they were found with only re-attachment of a few pieces and stabilization of cracks to allow safe handling.  This is a VERY RARE string of articulated vertebrae which were exposed for some time lasting as such, through several harsh winters of this region.  The bones and rock matrix were found bleached white and fused together as you see them albeit for a couple of repairs which we made both in the field and later, in the lab. 

There is just no way to make this a pretty fossil and its extremely rare occurrence scientifically speaking beckons its own admiration in spite of its lack of quality preservation.  The partially degenerated bones are solid and stable and the entire vertebral column is safe to pick up as shown above.   As rare as it is, we opted to keep it in its most natural state as it was first discovered.  No putty or fillers were used.  Cracks were glued but there is NO FABRICATION, NO RESTORATION AND NO ASSEMBLING OF THE FOSSILS FROM MULTIPLE DINOSAURS.  This is the first time we have offered a specimen like this.  

For its astonishing array of dangerous and large prehistoric predator fossils, no place has captured more attention or has been featured on television more than Hell Creek!  Dromaeosaur 'raptor' fossils are amongst the most requested dinosaur fossils.  Despite what has been promoted by Hollywood, most dromaeosaurs were the size of a small dog.  This specimen indicates it came from a larger Velociraptor-type dromaeosaur. 

The 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.  Although there is no conclusive evidence for this, 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. 

Recent discoveries in China have shown feathered species existed.  This has revolutionized paleontologists' view of what not only these creatures could have looked like when alive, but of possible plumage on other therapod dinosaurs.  Dromaeosaurs share other characteristics with birds and theories now place these vicious predators as being the earliest ancestors of birds.  Dromaeosaurs first evolved in the Early Cretaceous and survived right up to the end of the Late Cretaceous suggesting they were adaptable and capable hunters, surviving such a prolonged period yet, remaining virtually unchanged in overall design.

ARTICULATED DROMAEOSAUR FOSSILS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY RARE! - THIS CONSIDERABLY LONG COLUMN OF VERTEBRAE WOULD MAKE A MONUMENTAL DISPLAY SPECIMEN TO ACCOMPANY CLAWS AND TEETH OF THIS FAMOUS PREDATOR - THE PINNACLE OF A COLLECTION!!!

THIS ULTRA RARE SPECIMEN IS LISTED AT A PRICE LESS THAN MOST DEALERS SELL A SINGLE CLAW FOR - A ONCE IN A LIFETIME FIND!

22" long overall

SOLD     DT6-090     Actual Item - One Only

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" FOSSILS FOR SALE

Velociraptor courtesy of MINEO SHIRAISHI  and used with permission.  This image is protected by copyright.

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