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

Location: Oued Zem, Morocco

Weight: 2.9 Ounces

Dimensions: 3.1 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide, 1.3 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Tooth Dimensions: 1.8 Inches Long, 0.9 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 was a large predatory mosasaur that played a unique role in the marine ecosystems of the Late Cretaceous period. While many marine reptiles specialized in chasing agile prey, Prognathodon occupied a niche focused on hard-shelled organisms such as ammonites, marine turtles, and shellfish. Its heavy skull and immensely strong jaws reveal an animal adapted for brute-force feeding strategies, allowing it to access food sources unavailable to many other predators.

The teeth of Prognathodon were especially distinctive, combining crushing strength with finely edged surfaces designed for processing tough prey. Fossils discovered in North America offered direct confirmation of these feeding habits by preserving remains of shelled animals within the stomach area. However, the presence of large fish fossils alongside these remains suggests that Prognathodon remained a versatile hunter capable of opportunistic predation.

This evolutionary strategy may have been influenced by increasing competition among large marine predators or by the abundance of shelled animals in Late Cretaceous oceans. Its adaptations demonstrate how mosasaurs diversified into multiple ecological roles, highlighting the complexity of prehistoric marine food webs and the evolutionary success of these reptiles.

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.