Gastralia

Tyrannosaurus gastralia

Gastralia are bones protecting the ventral area of a vertebrate. They are found in some living and fossil reptiles. Crocodiles, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, and theropod dinosaurs have gastralia. Unlike ribs, they are not connected to the vertebrae.

Gastralia Media

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  Crocodiles have the abdominal ribs modified into gastralia