Denversaurus scute

SKU
DK21
In stock
$850.00
Overview

An EXTRA LARGE, High Quality Denversaurus schlessmani osteoderm (bony armor plate) from the late Cretaceous of northern North AmericaAn August Fossil of the Month. Denversaurus schlessmani was the Nodosaur which grew to 20 feet and 6000 pounds, and a body covered with this heavy bony armor. Nodosaur armor plates are thicker than the Ankylosaur plates. A complete body osteoderm plate from an adult Denversaurus. The bone is excellent quality with excellent color / patina. No cracks or restoration. Legally collected on private land in the Lance Creek Fm., Niobrara Co., Wyoming. Authenticity guaranteed. A collector's quality Nodosaur osteoderm. I do not see large ostederms very often.

DK24         SIZE: 5-1/2"  x  4-1/2" 

Note - Adding 10 new Ankylosaur - Nodosaur fossils in Auugust 2021.       Link to Ankylosaur fossils catalog.

Ankylosaurs and the Nodosaurs, their cousins, are the familiar armored dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous period. They were covered with osteoderms or boney plates of protective armor, and the Ankylosaurs had a clubbed tail for added defense.  The Ankylosaurs and the Nodosaurs were large. Ankylosaurus, the largest Ankylosaur, reached lengths up to 30 feet and weight to 17000 lbs. Edmontonia, a Nodosaur, reached lengths of 22 feet and weighed up to 7000 lbs.  These dinosaurs were built close to the ground, wide barrel-chested, and quadrupedal. You can see them referred as the “tanks” of the dinosaur world, and would be quite challenging for a Tyrannosaur or raptor to attack; especially, the Ankylosaurs with their club tails. Many Tyrannosaurs including Tyrannosaurus rex have been found with broken and healed leg fractures. Those dinosaurs may have survived an encounter with an Ankylosaur.

Ankylosaurs and the Nodosaurs were herbivores. They had good sized teeth for cutting or nipping low lying vegetation. Today, we find their fossilized teeth, osteoderms (armor plates), and bones. We have a great assortment of Ankylosaurus fossils for sale. Note – Ankylosaurus was a rare species composing of only 1% of the dinosaurs species found in the Hell Creek Formation.

Species include the following –

Ankylosaurus magniventris – the largest Ankylosaur, Hell Creek Formation; 67-66 mya

Denversaurus schlessmani - the Hell Creek Fm. Nodosaur ; 67-66 mya

Euplocephalus tutus – an Ankylosaur, Judith River / Two Medicine / Horseshoe Canyon Fm.; 76-75 mya

Edmontia rugosidens – a Nodosaur,  Judith River / Two Medicine / Horseshoe Canyon Fm.; 77-69 mya

Zuul crurivastator - an Ankylosaur, Judith River Fm. - Montana; 80 -75 mya