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LARGE DROMAEOSAUR " RAPTOR " CAUDAL VERTEBRA FROM HELL CREEK Hell Creek Formation - South Dakota, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 96 - 66 million years ago Without a doubt, dromaeosaur 'raptor' fossils are amongst the most sought-after fossil with all dinosaur fossil collectors regardless of how advanced they are. This is a very high grade caudal (tail) vertebra with a good portion of the dorsal process still intact. It is from the famous Hell Creek Formation in the U.S.. Rare with this much present as dromaeosaur bones are extremely fragile and rarely survive fossilization. Much larger so likely from a Velociraptor-sized dromaeosaur. NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. 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 was once the home to some of the biggest names in dinosaurs including Triceratops and most notably, Tyrannosaurus Rex!
Recent discoveries in China have shown feathered species existed. This has revolutionized paleontologists' view of what not only these creatures could have looked like when alive, but of possible plumage on other therapod dinosaurs. Dromaeosaurs share other characteristics with birds and theories now place these vicious predators as being the earliest ancestors of birds. Dromaeosaurs first evolved in the Early Cretaceous and survived right up to the end of the Late Cretaceous suggesting they were adaptable and capable hunters, surviving such a prolonged period yet, remaining virtually unchanged in overall design. HIGH GRADE AND LARGE DROMAEOSAUR CAUDAL VERTEBRA WITH PORTION OF DORSAL PROCESS INTACT 1.5" long SOLD DT6-039 Actual Item - One Only |
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Velociraptor courtesy of MINEO SHIRAISHI and used with permission. This image is protected by copyright. |
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The
dromaeosaurs are popularly known (especially in the movie "Jurassic
Park") as "raptors", a group of fascinating extinct
creatures. Raptors ranged in size from the size of a small dog
on
up to 30 feet long! They are therapods that possessed specialized
features: a well-developed slashing talon on their second toe, a stiffened
tail, and large grasping hands.
The
"killing claw" of raptors was a terrifying and incredibly
efficient weapon. As they moved, it was held off the ground.
When the muscles of the toe were contracted, the claw swept down
quickly, providing for a powerful slash that may have been able to
disembowel prey swiftly. The stiffened tail would have been good
to stabilize the body while the grasping arms and jaws held onto the
prey for balance. Although there is no conclusive evidence for
this, it has been suggested that raptors could have performed leaps onto
large prey and used all four limbs to rip wounds in them. 
Raptors
were ferocious predators that some scientists believe hunted in packs
and attacked much larger dinosaurs by slashing their underbellies.
It is also believed that they were similar to lions in predatory
behavior, preferring ambushes and quick chases using their high
maneuverability along with strategic pack-hunting tactics. A human
could be torn to shreds by a pack of raptors in less than 30
seconds. 