Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Brachylophosaurus Tail Bones with Skin Impression
Auction Closed
July 28, 03:27 PM GMT
Estimate
50,000 - 75,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Brachylophosaurus Tail Bones with Skin Impression
Brachylophosaurus canadensis
Late Cretaceous (approx. 77 million years ago)
Judith River Formation, Phillips County, Montana
37 by 22 by 6 inches (94 x 55.9 x 15.2 cm).
Four tail vertebrae (caudals) with associated chevrons articulated as discovered with clearly visible skin impression preserving in detail scales, wrinkles, and folds. The pebbly tubercles are subequal in shape and size. The distinctive cross-hatching pattern on the lower part of the tail skin preserved is reminiscent of living elephant or rhinoceros skin.
While remains of this Brachylophosaurus are not uncommon, their fossilized skin impressions absolutely are. The preserved, distinctive cross-hatched pattern seen in this specimen is reminiscent of an elephant or a rhinoceros.
Brachylophosaurus canadensis was a large, crested hadrosaur (also known as a duck-billed dinosaur) only found in North America. A generalist herbivore that competed for food with ankylosaurs and ceratopsians, the diet of Brachylophosaurus consisted of ferns, conifers, and flowering plants.
Dinosaur “mummies’ are extremely popular museum attractions as they allow for a fascinating and unique view of ancient life forms. Although this specimen is referred to as a “mummy”, there exists no preserved soft tissue, but instead the imprint of a tail section from a Brachylophosaurus carcass. Fossilized skin impressions like that of the specimen offered here provide paleontologists with valuable insights into the exact external appearance and soft-tissue makeup of long-extinct animals.