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EXTREMELY RARE STRUTHIOMIMUS COMPLETE DINOSAUR SLASHING HAND CLAW Hell Creek Formation - Montana, U.S.A. LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 70 - 65 million years ago Collected from the Late Cretaceous badland deposits of the Hell Creek Formation, this is a spectacular and EXTREMELY RARE slashing hand claw from the ornithomimosaur Struthiomimus altus. Because these claws are long and slender with delicate tips, it is very, very seldom that they found in a well-preserved state. Most specimens you will find on the market will have restored tips. This rare find is near complete with a 100% authentic, intact tip. It was found in two pieces and necessitated only approximately 10% restoration in the middle of the body toward the back of the claw where the crack existed. The proximal end and the entire length of the long, delicate tip are complete and original. Entire surface is very dense and superbly preserved. The state of preservation is of the highest quality with complete mineralization down to the solid articulating joint at the back. Stunning black to walnut-colored hue dominates this "sinister-looking" slashing dinosaur fossil claw of impressive proportions. To find a Struthiomimus hand claw nearly complete with an intact and sharp tip like this rare specimen is highly uncommon! SPECIAL NOTE: Like most of the fossil we offer, we performed all the work to this specimen ourselves in our lab so we can accurately and honestly disclose the nature and extent of the work done to this specimen. This is very important information in the fossil trade as almost all fossils have some repair and/or restoration. Purchasing specimens FROM THE ACTUAL PERSON OR PERSONS DOING THE PREPARATION WORK is VITAL for you the buyer, to know what you are getting. Buying rare fossils from a seller that buys already prepared fossils from someone else and simply echoes what they were told is the best way to get a mystery fossil with no recourse to determine as to what kind of work has been done to the specimen. This kind of rampant misrepresentation in the fossil market is one of the key arguments the science community uses to discourage buying fossils! To be sure that what you are buying is accurately and honestly represented, only deal with a highly experienced professional who has firsthand knowledge AND experience with regard to fossil preparation, repair and restoration as well as extensive paleontological lab experience.
Struthiomimus altus is an ornithomimosaur type dinosaur. This creature attained lengths of 13 feet and is believed to have been an extremely fast running creature. Struthiomimus is considered the most popular member of this family. The ornithomimids (also called the "ostrich dinosaurs") are a fascinating group of dinosaurs that thrived in the Mid to Late Cretaceous Period in Western North America and Mongolia. In the original Jurassic Park film, a spectacular scene is digitally recreated where an enormous herd of these creatures are stampeding across an open plain. The speed and method of locomotion in which they were depicted in the movie is scientifically accurate and gives us a glimpse as to not only what these dinosaurs might have looked like but also how they ran. Reaching body lengths of 10 to 13 feet, these were relatively large dinosaurs but were very swift and graceful runners. Very similar to a modern day ostrich or emu, an ornithomimosaur possessed a lightly constructed skeleton of hollow bones, long streamlined running legs, unusually large eyes and a large brain cavity. Their hand claws are not recurved and were not well-suited for catching prey. Their most prominent feature is their long neck and long legs, each with a three-toed foot tipped with shorter claws than their hands possess. The diet of ornithomimosaurs is widely speculated. Lacking teeth yet highly intelligent and built for speed, it is most likely that these dinosaurs were omnivorous. With no apparent means of defense, the ornithomimosaur's best answer to any perceived danger was its incredible ability for high-speed running, estimated to have approached 40 mph! Ornithomimosaur remains have only been found in North America and East Asia. A VERY LARGE AND DELICATE SLASHING DINOSAUR CLAW SPECIMEN IN SUPERB AND VERY RARE PRESERVATION 3.75" long SOLD DT13-100 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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THE HELL CREEK FORMATION OF NORTHWESTERN U.S.A. |
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3895 |
