4" Tyrannosaur (Gorgosaurus?) Vertebra with Stand - Montana

Tyrannosaur (Gorgosaurus?) Vertebra with Stand - Montana #284744

This is an uniquely preserved, 4" tall tyrannosaur (Gorgosaurus libratus?) vertebra collected from the Two Medicine Formation of Montana. It was collected this last summer from our partner's private lease and has been nicely prepared from the hard rock surrounding it. The centrum is overall in great condition with some weathering along the edges, creating a unique spiderweb-like appearance.

It sits beautifully on the included custom metal display stand.

There are three described tyrannosaurid species found in the Two Medicine formation (Daspletosaurus horneri, Daspletosaurus wilsoni, and Gorgosaurus libratus). An isolated vertebra would probably be indistinguishable between the three species. But based on prevalence of material found at the quarry it is believed this most likely Gorgosaurus libratus.

There is a repaired crack across the centrum just beneath the neural canal. This crack required some gap fill restoration. Additional gap fill can be found along the basal edge of the vertebra.

Gorgosaurus was a large Tyrannosaurid carnivore from the Late Cretaceous of western North America living around 76-75 million years ago. During this time it coexisted with the similarly sized tyrannosaur Daspletosaurus. Both tyrannosaurs measured 25-30 feet and around 3 tons at adult size. How they coexisted is not quite clear, but what is known is that the more slender albertosaurine Gorgosaurus seemed to prefer the northern latitudes, while Daspletosaurus was more common in southern localities. As a tyrannosaur, Gorgosaurus was a carnivore with small arms and strong jaws. In addition, Gorgosaurus and the related Albertosaurus have been found fossilized in small groups, suggesting that these more gracile species may have mobbed their prey.

The Two Medicine Formation is a geographical formation in Central Montana and Southern Alberta, Canada. The formation is predominantly sandstone laid down by rivers and deltas during the Campanian Age of the Cretaceous, about 80-75 million years ago. Approximately two thousand feet thick on the western edge, it lies on top of the Virgelle Sandstone formation and under the Bearpaw Shale. It is located between the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and the Sweetgrass Arch, a tectonic fold feature 40-90 miles east of the Front Range.

The Two Medicine is the same age as the Judith River Formation found further east. It was laid down further inland from the Western Interior Seaway, while the Judith River Formation was deposited along the coast. The Two Medicine contains much of the same dinosaur fauna, but fewer reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic fossils.

A view of the Two Medicine Formation quarry operated by Northwest Montana Fossils, where much of our Two Medicine dinosaur material has been found.