Rare Ricardoestesia Tooth- Judith River Formation | River Walkers Minerals

Species: Ricardoestesia sp. (commonly attributed to R. gilmorei)
Age: Late Cretaceous (~76–74 million years old)
Locale: Judith River Formation, Montana, USA 🇺🇸 
Size: 12.7 x 6.2 x 4 mm

This tiny but fascinating tooth comes from the famous Judith River Formation and dates to roughly 76–74 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous. Teeth attributed to Ricardoestesia are among the most intriguing fossils from this ancient ecosystem because paleontologists are still debating exactly what kind of animal they belonged to.

Originally described as the teeth of a small theropod dinosaur, some researchers have suggested that Ricardoestesia may have belonged to a bird-like dinosaur, while others have proposed crocodilians or even fish. Despite decades of study, its true identity remains uncertain, making these teeth especially interesting to collectors.

This specimen displays the characteristic slender, recurved shape associated with Ricardoestesia gilmorei. Although small, teeth like these represent predators that shared their environment with giant hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, tyrannosaurs, and countless other species that inhabited the lush coastal plains of ancient North America.

Despite its size, this tooth is a genuine piece of one of the most diverse dinosaur ecosystems ever discovered and a great addition to any microfossil or dinosaur collection. This tooth comes in a small container for display purposes.

Please review all photos and videos carefully. You will receive this exact piece.