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RARE SAURORNITHOLESTES DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" DINOSAUR TOOTH FROM HELL CREEK Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota (Harding County), U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 70 - 65 million years ago Discovered in 1978 in North America, the dromaeosaur Saurornitholestes was found to have a much larger brain than most other "raptors". At approximately 5 feet in length and weighing only around 30 pounds, its size was not intimidating. Nevertheless, this dinosaur was extremely fast and most likely a very smart and ferocious predator. The sickle-shaped claws on each foot and the hand claws are very thin and dramatically curved. The hands of Saurornitholestes were well-adapted for grasping and its bones are hollow creating a very strong but lightweight frame for speed in running. No doubt, to many other creatures living in the midst of Saurornitholestes, this was one swift and deadly meat-eater to avoid. This Saurornitholestes "raptor" dromaeosaur dinosaur tooth is an exceedingly specimen. The images above its superb preservation. It possesses finely detailed and intact serrations along with a sharp and unworn tip. The enamel is a beautiful dark rich coffee brown with CHOICE lustrous enamel preservation. INTACT with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. For the rarity and uniqueness of this species, we highly recommend adding this top-grade example to your collection as this quality is always very limited in availability. 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. 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.
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 "RAPTOR" DINOSAUR TOOTH IN GEM PRESERVATION - FOR A WELL DIVERSIFIED DINOSAUR COLLECTION .25" long along the leading curve $195 DT6-116 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. 