"DUCK-BILLED" DINOSAUR MAXILLA. ...

Description

"DUCK-BILLED" DINOSAUR MAXILLA
Edmontosaurus sp.
Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian stage
Private ranch, Hell Creek Formation, Wibaux Co., mid-eastern Montana
This upper jaw section is a fine specimen from the well-known family of duck-billed dinosaurs, the Hadrosauridae. Their broad flattened beaks were used for stripping the prehistoric foliage of leaves and twigs, which were then crushed and ground by the rows of basic teeth packed into dental batteries further back in the jaw. This feeding method is perfectly illustrated here by the flattened teeth that line the specimen, set into a well-preserved jaw section with good bone patina and a nice warm brown coloring. The curious line of holes that runs along the inside of the bone were canals called foramina (singular: foramen). Their purpose was to allow branches from the maxillary (dentary) nerve and blood supply (called a nutrient foramen in that case) to reach the mouth and lip tissues. There may even have been sensory whiskers of a sort to aid in finding food. Given the location, the quality of this specimen should be no surprise: the Hell Creek formation in Montana is renowned for the large amount of Cretaceous fauna and flora in its record. This example measures 17 inches long and is presented on a custom wood and metal display stand.

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