The Complete Tooth of a Diplodocus

Diplodocus is a member of a family of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs that includes Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Barosaurus, and others. As the largest creatures ever to walk on land, sauropods are the quintessential icons of all things big and prehistoric. Diplodocus itself grew to 85 feet (26 m) in length, with some species—like Supersaurus—reaching nearly 130 feet (40 m) in length. These massive creatures developed powerful whiptails as weapons for self-defense, and their extremely long necks supported a small head with relatively small teeth.

Diplodocus teeth are also a characteristic feature in that they are proportionately small and slender and are positioned as incisors located only in the front of the jaws, rendering them unsuitable for chewing vegetation. This—coupled with observed wear patterns and a wide sweeping motion of the neck—lead paleontologists to speculate that Diplodocus employed its fragile teeth in either branch-stripping, fern pulling, or filter feeding similar to that of some extant wading birds.

The name Diplodocus means "double beam", a reference to the large chevron bones on the underside of its incredibly long tail. However, it is this dinosaur's highly unusual tooth morphology that truly sets it apart, greatly adding to the uniqueness and appeal of the beautiful Dana Quarry specimen offered here.