Hypacrosaurus vertebra

Hypacrosaurus is a member of the family of duck-billed dinosaurs that were widespread in the Cretaceous. These herbivores may well be called the "cows"of the dinosaur world. A complex dental system and a keratinized beak on the muzzle allowed effective grinding of a wide variety of vegetation.

Hypacrosaurs were quite large animals, reaching up to 9 m in length and weighing about 4 tons. The bones of the skull formed a crest, resembling a "helmet" of a cassowary. Another distinctive feature is the long and thin processes of the spinous vertebrae, which created a ridge on the back.

In our case, the spinous process is broken; otherwise, the vertebra is well preserved. The vertebral body is flattened; the spinal canal has a relatively small diameter. This is a good specimen with a high collectible value.