14 - THE TOOTH OF A TYRANNOSAURUS-REX

THE TOOTH OF A TYRANNOSAURUS-REX HELL CREEK FORMATION, MONTANA, LATE CRETACEOUS, C. 67–66 MILLION B.P. a well-preserved tooth of a Tyrannosaurus rex, with fine serration, Hell Creek Formation, Maastrichtian, late Cretaceous, c. 67 - 66 million years B.P. 4.6cm / 1.8 inches long Provenance: Found at Phipps Ranch, Eastern Montana, United States, during the 2025 dig season, within the renowned Hell Creek Formation. The fossil originates from the renowned Hell Creek Formation, a geological treasure trove dating back 68–66 million years, right at the end of the Cretaceous period, just before the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. During this time, the landscape was a lush, subtropical floodplain teeming with life. Fossil discoveries from these beds include a diverse array of dinosaurs, reptiles, mammals, and even marine creatures, painting a vivid picture of a once-thriving prehistoric ecosystem. Tyrannosaurus rex had proportionally massive teeth, with thick, robust crowns covered in heavy enamel and serrations on both edges. Its 60 teeth, reaching up to 20 cm (8 inches) long, combined with an immensely powerful bite, around three times stronger than a lion’s, made it a dominant apex predator. Fossil evidence, including bite marks on Triceratops and Edmontosaurus bones, reveals its ability to crush through bone.