1.38" Theropod Caudal Vertebrae(Judith River)

Size: 1.18"L x 0.48" W

Species: unknown theropod 

Age: Late Cretaceous, 75.3-79 MYA

Location Found: Judith River Formation, Northern Montana, USA 

No repairs or restoration.

Caudla vertebrae facts:

• Number: Dinosaurs typically had about 50 caudal vertebrae, though the exact count varied by species.

• Location: They extend from the base of the tail (near the hips) all the way to the tip.

• Function: They provided support, balanced the body during movement, anchored powerful tail muscles (such as the caudofemoralis), and sometimes formed specialized structures like whips (in Diplodocus) or stiff balancing rods (in dromaeosaurs)