4.4" Ornithomimus Caudal Vertebra - Montana

This is a 4.4" fossil theropod dinosaur (Ornithomimus) caudal vertebra from the Hell Creek Formation, Montana. It is in very good condition and includes the vertebral arch and the right transverse process. There are a number of repaired cracks, but the bone is stable and makes a very nice display.

Ornithomimus was a swift bipedal theropod that slightly resembled an ostrich: fossil evidence suggests that it was covered in feathers. It had a small toothless beak and clawed front appendages, indicating an omnivorous diet that likely included leaves, insects, fruits, and small mammals or lizards. It is estimated that they could reach upwards of 30 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour).

An artist's rendering of Ornithomimus. Creative Commons License, By Tom Parker
An artist's rendering of Ornithomimus. Creative Commons License, By Tom Parker

Because of its age and sedimentary composition, the Hell Creek Formation has become one of the most paleontologically studied areas in the world. 158 genera of animals and 64 genera of plants are known from the formation and new discoveries are made frequently. In addition to Tyrannosaurs, Ceratopsids, and Hadrosaurs, the formation has yielded remains of amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes and turtles, fish and sharks, avian and non-avian dinosaurs, and mammals. The Hell Creek Formation gives the most complete understanding of the environment just before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Ornithomimus sp.
LOCATION
Montana
FORMATION
Hell Creek Formation
SIZE
4.4"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#114434
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