Paronychodon sp. Tooth-Montana

 Taxa: Paronychodon sp.

Geology: Hell Creek formation

Age: Cretaceous-Maastrichtian

Locality: Garfield County, Montana

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Paronychodon

Paronychodon is a genus of small theropod dinosaur known primarily from isolated teeth found in Late Cretaceous formations of North America, including the Hell Creek Formation. The teeth are characterized by their elongated, flattened shape with minimal serrations, leading to uncertainty about their classification. Some researchers suggest that Paronychodon may not represent a distinct genus but rather teeth from juveniles or variants of other theropods, such as troodontids or dromaeosaurs. Due to the lack of skeletal remains, its true identity and ecological role remain unclear.

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.