1.6" Mosasaur Prognathodon Fossil Tooth In Matrix Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA

Location: Oued Zem, Morocco

Weight: 4.6 Ounces

Dimensions: 2.3 Inches Long, 2.3 Inches Wide, 1.9 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Tooth Dimensions: 1.6 Inches Long, 1.2 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.

Among the giant predators that dominated the Late Cretaceous seas, Prognathodon stands out as a mosasaur that took a very different approach to survival. While its relatives pursued fast-moving fish and other marine reptiles, this powerful hunter developed a crushing bite designed for feeding on armored prey. Fossil evidence suggests that Prognathodon targeted turtles, ammonites, and shellfish, using its massive jaws and thick teeth to break through protective shells before consuming the soft tissue inside.

For decades, paleontologists could only guess at the diet of Prognathodon based on its unusual teeth and heavily built skull. That changed when fossil discoveries in Canada preserved not only its body shape but also its last meals. Scientists found remains of turtles and ammonites within its stomach region, along with the bones of a large fish, proving that this marine reptile combined specialization with opportunism. These findings offered rare insight into how mosasaurs adapted to different ecological niches in ancient oceans.

The physical design of Prognathodon reflects its predatory lifestyle. Its jaws were constructed to withstand enormous pressure, and finely serrated edges on its teeth allowed for both crushing and cutting. The presence of bony supports around the eyes may indicate adaptations for deep-water hunting, suggesting it could dive to depths where shelled prey were abundant. Whether driven by competition or opportunity, Prognathodon’s evolutionary path highlights the incredible diversity of mosasaurs and the dynamic ecosystems of the Late Cretaceous seas.

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.