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PERFECT REFERENCE SPECIMEN OF AN ARTICULATED HADROSAUR TOOTH BATTERY WITH FOUR TEETH Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 70 - 65 million years ago
The unique dentition structure of hadrosaurids is often hard to understand unless you actually see the way the teeth were arranged and moved up in moving columns - worn teeth being pushed out of the jaw to be replaced by fresh teeth with full crowns. As a perfect educational reference specimen, one would ideally want a jaw with the teeth still in place which is rare. This poses a problem still as you cannot easily see the way the lower teeth are growing and progressing upward as the dinosaur ages because you need a SIDE view, ideally. This very uncommon specimen is the answer to that display dilemma. With a perfect view of the side angle, this is a still articulated AS FOUND tooth battery of four teeth from the jaw of a deceased dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens, a member of the Hadrosaurid family.
You could not ask for a more ideal example of the anatomy of a hadrosaur tooth battery! There are two teeth that are erupted and have worn crowns and below them, two other unworn teeth inline, waiting to move up and replace the higher teeth. This specimen has a few repaired fractures but otherwise is 100 natural as it was found. The unworn crowns of the lower teeth show spectacular enamel and form. NO RESTORATION or addition of unassociated teeth. Rare and recommended!
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! This area is known to many as "the Valley of the T. rex!". The "duck-billed" Hadrosaurs and the "horned" dinosaurs like Triceratops were common prey for many large meat-eating dinosaurs of the famed region. Hadrosaurs were herbivores (plant-eaters) and only had teeth in the cheek area, not the front of the mouth. The many rows of teeth were perfect for effectively grinding up rough vegetation for easy digestion. This unique group of dinosaurs grew in sizes over 40 feet and probably weighed over 5 tons! In-depth studies of a variety of duckbill remains indicate that these were strictly land-based dinosaurs that walked predominantly on all fours but had the ability to stand on their hind legs. Hadrosaur remains have been found in China, North America, South America (Argentina) and Europe. EXTREMELY RARE ARTICULATED TOOTH BATTERY OF A PERFECTLY ATTACHED COLUMN AS IT WAS IN THE JAW WITH BOTH WORN AND YET TO BE USED TEETH IN LINE - NATURAL AS FOUND! 2.5" long SOLD DT7-008 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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Special thanks to the highly talented artist TODD MARSHALL for permission to feature his artwork
THE HELL CREEK FORMATION OF NORTHWESTERN U.S.A. |
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