Description
This is a Fossil Ornithischian Jaw Fragment. This is a real dinosaur skull piece from the Badlands of South Dakota.
This tooth was found by famed paleontologist Walter Stein at one of his leased dig sites outside Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The numbers of the fossil are the numbers he uses to log in and track the finds.
This Fossil Ornithischian Jaw Fragment is from a mainly herbivorous dinosaur characterized by a pelvic structure superficially similar to that of birds. The name Ornithischia, or “bird-hipped” comes from the unique hip structure. These dinosaurs roughly resemble ostriches depending on size of the animal. Ornithischians very greatly in size and shape. But due to the unique structure of this jaw fragment is can be identifies as an Ornithischian but that is about it.
These dinosaurs were plant eaters and as such had arrays of teeth. This section reverse shows several holes. Those holes were for blood vessels and nerves to pass through. Because they ate plants they needed teeth that would constantly regrow. The slots that can be seen in this fossils clearly show the grooves where the teeth were. Because these teeth grew very quickly they would often lose them. Because this fossil was not found with an associated skeleton it is considered a fragment.
It was found in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. Because this area of the country is well known for many dinosaur species. Because the Ornithischians were plant eaters it is assumed they roamed in herds.
