Paronychodon sp. Tooth-Montana 002

Taxa: Paronychodon sp.

Geology: Hell Creek formation

Age: Cretaceous-Maastrichtian

Locality: Powder River County, Montana

Size: 5/16" or 0.9 cm

 No repairs or restorations

Paronychodon

Paronychodon (meaning "beside claw tooth") is an extinct genus of small theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of North America. Because it is known almost exclusively from isolated, distinctive teeth rather than skeletal remains, it is classified as a "tooth taxon" and is often considered dubious by paleontologists. First named by Edward Drinker Cope in 1876, its teeth are characterized by their unique, un-serrated, and often ridged geometry, though researchers debate whether these specimens truly belong to a distinct group of small maniraptoran dinosaurs (such as troodontids) or simply represent anatomical variations from the teeth of already known theropods.

Hell Creek formation

The Hell Creek Formation is a geologic formation in North America, primarily spanning Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It dates to the Late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago, and is famous for its rich fossil record, including dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Edmontosaurus. It also contains evidence of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event, including an iridium layer associated with the asteroid impact that contributed to the mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. The formation also preserves fossils of plants, mammals, fish, and reptiles, providing valuable insights into prehistoric ecosystems.