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RARE PARTIALLY DIGESTED INTACT DROMAEOSAUR " RAPTOR " TOOTH FROM BEING SWALLOWED DURING FEEDING Tegana Formation - Kem Kem Beds, Morocco LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 96 - 66 million years ago Many African dinosaurs are yet undiscovered and/or identified. Saharan expeditions in the recent years have yielded incredible new discoveries of many species never known to exist including a yet-to-be-named dromaeosaur. There are likely several species of African dromaeosaurs, ranging from the size of a peacock up to the size of Velociraptor, that have never been attributed based on wide ranging characteristics of the teeth. This is a classic dromaeosaur "raptor" dinosaur tooth but with an interesting feature - it was swallowed by the dromaeosaur it once belonged to, likely during feeding. Occasionally in the fossil record, you find teeth that have been swallowed. As teeth in many of these creatures were in a constant state of replacement, on some occasions during feeding, a tooth was swallowed. The evidence for it is the surface of the enamel showing signs of complete partial erosion from the digestive acids in the stomach. The teeth from this site are not and were not subject to high energy environments that would have tumbled them or eroded them and most of the fossil teeth are found WITHOUT any signs of this feature. The teeth and other fossils are dug from hard or semi-rigid sediment layers deep in the ground so none of the fossils are exposed to the wind of the desert or movement of the sand You can see all edges and surface of this tooth above has a partially dissolved surface. This is the FIRST TIME we have ever offered a swallowed tooth for same from a dromaeosaur. Tooth is INTACT WITH NO RESTORATION AND NO REPAIR. Evidence of serrations and sharp tip are lacking but the tooth is complete. RARE and a highly interesting / educational addition to any dinosaur fossil collection. Most dromaeosaurs were only knee-high and about the size of small dogs, hence the very small teeth that are usually found. This is a TOP GRADE fossil tooth of a seldom seen quality with superb enamel, color and overall preservation on the finest level.
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. RARE SWALLOWED AND PARTIALLY DIGESTED DROMAEOSAUR TOOTH - INTACT / COMPLETE - AN UNUSUAL COLLECTION ADDITION .55" long along the leading curve $175 DT6-106 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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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. 