What kind of vertebra is this?

[dingo2]

Found in Scollard Formation.

I read in an old trip report by @Ridgehiker that ceratopsian verts have an hourglass shape and thought this piece seemed to fit the bill.

 

 @Troodon

 

[Rockwood]

The missing element (process) seems to hold a huge clue. To the right observer, that is.

[dingo2]

Unfortunately I have never found a vertebra with all the processes attached. I don't know whether I'm unlucky or if they're just rare. I've seen some pictures of verts that are heavily worn and still have all the processes intact.

[Troodon]

Nice centrum.  Here are several of images of Triceratops dorsal vertebrae you can compare to yours.  The ends of your has one concave end and one convex not typical of Ceratopsian.

 

 

I believe what you have is a hadrosaur vertebra from an Edmontosaurus, most likely one of the anterior dorsals

 

Example of mine

[Rockwood]

@LordTrilobite 

[dingo2]

Thanks for posting yours @Troodon I was searching for similar specimens on google and couldn't find any that really looked like mine, but yours is almost identical (one end convex, other concave, single ridge along the bottom, "hourglass" shape). Have you ever made an ID guide for verts like your one on claws? 

[LordTrilobite]

I think Troodon is on the money.

[Rockwood]

1 hour ago, LordTrilobite said:

I think Troodon is on the money.

Snap ! I did it again. ' focused on what it wasn't and completely missed what it was.

Sorry about that.

[Troodon]

9 hours ago, dingo2 said:

Have you ever made an ID guide for verts like your one on claws? 

 

No but I should there is lots of reference materials out there.

[LordTrilobite]

3 hours ago, Rockwood said:

Snap ! I did it again. ' focused on what it wasn't and completely missed what it was.

Sorry about that.

It's fine. Sometimes it can help a lot to have a second opinion. 2 know more than 1.