1.3" Crocodile Fossil Vertebrae Bone Hell Creek FM Cretaceous Dinosaur Age Montana

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

Weight: 0.9 Ounces

Dimensions: 1.3 Inches Long, 1.1 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Cretaceous Age through to the Eocene Age 

Crocodiles are reptiles of the order Crocodylia that have existed for millions of years, evolving into a wide variety of species over time. During the Cretaceous Period, roughly 145 to 66 million years ago, several crocodile species inhabited the Hell Creek Formation in the northern United States. This famous formation, which stretches across parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, preserves a snapshot of a rich terrestrial ecosystem from the Late Cretaceous, showcasing the diverse flora and fauna that once thrived in this region.

This authentic crocodile vertebra derives from Montana's Hell Creek Formation, a Late Cretaceous deposit that preserves a sophisticated assemblage of prehistoric reptilian fauna. The specimen reflects an era when multiple crocodilian lineages coexisted within distinct ecological roles. Deinosuchus, the formation's most formidable predator, commanded the apex position with its 40-foot frame and dentition suited for consuming large dinosaurs. Contemporaneously, the more gracile Borealosuchus navigated intermediate niches as a 10-15 foot ichthyophage, while the diminutive Leidyosuchus—measuring 6-8 feet—specialized in benthic invertebrate consumption. This vertebral element encapsulates the complex interplay of Late Mesozoic crocodilian evolution and paleoenvironmental adaptation, offering collectors a tangible connection to one of Earth's most compelling prehistoric intervals.