LARGE TRICERATOPS RIB WITH T-REX BITE MARKS. ...

Description

LARGE TRICERATOPS RIB WITH T-REX BITE MARKS
Triceratops horridus
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian
Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota
Fossil bones tell us not only about the anatomy of the dinosaurs that lived so many millions of years ago, but often provide pathological clues as to their lifestyle, diet and even the wider context of the ecosystem in which they thrived. This is just such an example: a massive rib from the famed Triceratops, a big old Bull, complete with evidence of an attack by the fearsome and equally renowned T-Rex. The popular imagination has these two dinosaurs locked in eternal combat, the large and ferocious T-Rex feasting on the bulky herbivorous Triceratops, defending itself with its remarkable trio of skull horns. It has not been determined whether the wounds inflicted on the owner of the present specimen were fatal, but they certainly caused some serious damage, leaving well-defined grooves in the bone. With a fine dark woody patina and excellent texture, the rib is presented in a curving matrix of pleasantly contrasting pale gray, and measures an impressive 5 feet in length along the curve.

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