Thescelesaurus neglectus
Superorder Dinosauria, Order Ornithischia, Suborder Cerapoda, Family Hypsilophodontidae
Geological Time: Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous ((~67 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Dinosaur tooth is 4 mm by 5 mm with 12 mm root
Fossil Site: Hell Creek Formation, Garfield County, Montana
Code: HCF03
Price: Sold
 Description:
This is fine rooted tooth of the ornithopod dinosaur Thescelosaurus.
Thesceleosaurus was most like lyherbivorous; ridges on both the
maxillae and the dentary are indicative of chek puches, a feature
that would have proved useful in keeping food from falling out
of the mouth while it was being masticated. In 2000 an example
of this dinosaur called Willo caused quite a  sensation in that
it was claimed to have had internal organs including the heart
preserved in situ. Today most researchers do not believe it to
be the case. In any event, Willo stirred up renewed interest in
this bipedal dinosaur. It was one of the last non-avian dinosaurs
extant, and has been found as close as 3 meters below the end-Cretaceous
iridium layer that signaled the mass extinction. |
