1.5" Mosasaur Prognathodon Fossil Tooth In Matrix Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 4.3 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.3 Inches Long, 2.3 Inches Wide, 1.8 Inches Thick (Matrix)
Tooth Dimensions: 1.5 Inches Long, 0.8 Inches Wide
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
100 - 66 Million Years old, Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Epoch.
Name: Prognathodon (Forejaw tooth).
Named By: Dollo - 1889.
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Depending upon the species, Prognathodon could range between 6 and possibly just under 14 meters in length.
Known locations: Fossil locations suggest a worldwide distribution, but are especially well known from Europe and North America.
Time period: Campanian to Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Prognathodon is recognized as a highly specialized Late Cretaceous mosasaur that demonstrates a significant ecological shift within marine reptile evolution. Classified as a durophagous predator, it developed anatomical adaptations suited for consuming hard-shelled organisms, including ammonites and marine turtles. This feeding strategy differs markedly from the typical piscivorous or generalist predation seen in many other mosasaurs, indicating niche partitioning within ancient marine ecosystems.
The skull morphology of Prognathodon suggests extraordinary bite القوة, supported by enlarged jaw musculature and reinforced cranial bones. Its teeth, robust and subtly serrated, functioned as multifunctional tools capable of crushing shells while slicing exposed tissue. Confirmation of these adaptations came from fossil specimens discovered in Canada, which preserved stomach contents containing shelled prey and a large fish. These finds show that Prognathodon, while highly specialized, retained behavioral flexibility as an opportunistic predator.
Another notable feature is the presence of sclerotic rings around the eyes, interpreted by some researchers as a deep-water adaptation allowing vision and structural support under increased pressure. The rise of this feeding strategy may have been influenced by intense competition among marine apex predators or shifts in prey abundance during the Late Cretaceous. Alongside similar mosasaurs such as Globidens, Prognathodon illustrates the diversity and adaptive complexity that made mosasaurs dominant predators of ancient oceans.
Please be aware of the nature of fossils:
Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Morocco do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures; however, commonly, natural cracks are visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.
