This enormous tail bone comes from a long-necked sauropod called Diplodocus. Bones like these help scientists identify dinosaurs – the winglike processes on either side of the bone peg this species – very few other sauropods share the feature. This bone weighs over 200 lbs.

I chose this Diplodocus tail vertebra for one simple reason – I think it is beautiful! It really demonstrates the merging of form and function – the bone is perfectly adapted to bear the heavy weight of a long tail, but is also incredibly light-weight itself, with lots of struts, hollows, and supports. The backbone of these giant dinosaurs is almost like a suspension bridge.
– Kristi Curry Rogers, Curator of Paleontology