6.3" Edmontosaurus Fossil Vertebra Process Bone Lance Creek Cretaceous Dinosaur WY
Location: Lance Creek Formation, Wyoming (Private Land Origin)
Weight: 8.1 Ounces
Fossil Dimensions: 6.3 Inches Long, 2.3 Inches Wide, 2.2 Inches Thick
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Edmontosaurus (meaning "lizard from Edmonton") is a hadrosaurid dinosaur species from the Maastrichtian, the last stage of the Cretaceous period, dating from 71 to 65 million years ago. A fully grown adult could measure up to nine meters in length, with some of the larger species reaching thirteen meters. Its weight was around 3. 3.5 tonnes, making it one of the largest hadrosaurids.
Edmontosaurus could grind even the toughest foodstuffs back and forth across its teeth using its muscular, flexible cheeks.
To fit so many teeth into its mouth, they were tightly packed into "banks" of up to sixty rows, and new teeth continuously grew to replace the ones lost, similar to sharks. The bones of the upper jaw would flex outward as the lower jaw moved upward, allowing the mandible to grind against it. Typical diet items included conifer needles, seeds, and twigs, which have been found in the fossilized body cavities of Edmontosaurus. It was a herbivore that browsed on trees.
The 1908 Wyoming discovery is significant due to the preservation of fossilized skin impressions of Edmontosaurus. The rapid desiccation of the skin allowed its texture and form to be captured in the surrounding sediment. Analysis of these fossils indicates the skin was scaly and leathery, with the thigh muscle located immediately beneath the skin, creating the appearance that the leg extended from the knee while the entire thigh remained sheathed in skin. This anatomical characteristic contributes to its morphological similarity to modern ducks. Furthermore, the specimen exhibited numerous tubercles along the neck, back, and tail regions.
Edmontosaurus primarily moved bipedally but was capable of quadrupedal locomotion. Its forelimbs were shorter than the hind limbs, yet sufficiently developed to allow walking on all fours. The front feet possessed two hooved digits and weight-bearing pads comparable to those seen in Camarasaurus, while the hind feet featured two hooked toes. The robust bone structure of the lower limbs indicates strong muscular support for both legs and feet. A downward curve of the spine at the shoulders suggests a low browsing posture close to the ground. Although its limbs were powerful, Edmontosaurus was likely slow-moving and lacked prominent defensive adaptations, relying instead on acute vision, hearing, and olfaction to detect predators early.
