0.8" Champsosaurus Gigas Reptile Fossil Vertebrae Cretaceous Hell Creek FM MT COA

Location: Hell Creek Formation, Glendive, Montana (Private Land Origin)

Weight: 0.3 Ounces 

Dimensions: 0.8 Inches Long, 0.6 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Name: Champsosaurus (Crocodile lizard).

Diet: Carnivore/piscivore.

Size: Depending upon the species, anywhere between 1.5 and 3.5 meters long. Known locations: Canada and the USA. 

Champsosaurus Gigas was a fearless Cretaceous predator that shattered expectations about reptilian evolution. While it mimicked crocodilians in appearance and behavior, this audacious creature belonged to Choristodera—an entirely separate lineage of diapsid reptiles with no connection to modern crocs. Its slender, gharial-like snout concealed a jaw mechanism built for dominance: a massively muscled rear skull enabled either devastating bite force or lightning-fast strikes that could snatch elusive fish before they escaped. This colossal species dwarfed its relatives, growing to over eleven feet—a true apex hunter of its time. Born from the legendary "bone wars" of the 1800s, Champsosaurus captivated paleontologists for nearly 150 years as researchers refined our understanding of this enigmatic reptile. Own this authentic Hell Creek Formation vertebra and possess a tangible piece of this extraordinary predator's legacy, authenticated with a certificate of authenticity.