Jump to content

Calcanay

Recommended Posts

Hello! I got this dinosaur vertebra from Hell Creek (Montana) a few years back. It was sold to me as a Triceratops vertebra but I don't know how that ID was made. It's not in the best condition (has moss(?) on it and has been broken and then glued back together) but it is about 13-14 centimetres across so it is clearly from a big dinosaur, but there were plenty of those in Hell Creek (even two large ceratopsids - Triceratops and Torosaurus). Looking for any insight into how an ID could be made here and if Triceratops (or even just ceratopsid) is correct :)

 

5ff31e7293641_vert1.thumb.jpg.c371e98719a8054ac600781e9aa63ef8.jpg5ff31e762e708_vert3.thumb.jpg.ee79527edcc1f7a2e8a518b0918c1b4a.jpg5ff31e744a7ad_vert2.thumb.jpg.99174ea0fc3998c84787407504e58164.jpg

Edited by Calcanay
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think ceratopsian is a good ID on this.  It has a very round shape (third photo) which is typical.  Hadrosaurs are less round and T rex has a  very different internal texture.  The third large dinno option is an ankylosaur.  they are rare enough and I do not know much about the bottom edge of ankylosaur verts.  (That orange stuff is lichen, not moss).  

  • I found this Informative 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2021-01-04 at 5:17 PM, jpc said:

I think ceratopsian is a good ID on this.  It has a very round shape (third photo) which is typical.  Hadrosaurs are less round and T rex has a  very different internal texture.  The third large dinno option is an ankylosaur.  they are rare enough and I do not know much about the bottom edge of ankylosaur verts.  (That orange stuff is lichen, not moss).  

Thank you for taking a look! So (assuming it's not of ankylosaur origin), something like "Ceratopsidae indet." would be an appropriate formal label here? Shame that the seller didn't specify where in Hell Creek it was found since the different ceratopsids are quasi-separated stratigraphically, but what can you do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Calcanay said:

Thank you for taking a look! So (assuming it's not of ankylosaur origin), something like "Ceratopsidae indet." would be an appropriate formal label here? Shame that the seller didn't specify where in Hell Creek it was found since the different ceratopsids are quasi-separated stratigraphically, but what can you do.

yes.  Until I see further proof, I am not sold on the two genera being stratigraphically separate.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

52 minutes ago, jpc said:

yes.  Until I see further proof, I am not sold on the two genera being stratigraphically separate.  

Was just going off what I read in the Wikipedia article (though maybe that's not the best source). I'll stick with Ceratopsidae indet. either way. Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...