13" Polycotylid Plesiosaur Jaw and Vertebrae Fossil In Situ Cretaceous Age Morocco
Location: Goulmima, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Weight: 15 pounds 13 Ounces
Dimensions: 13 Inches Long, 11.5 Inches Wide, 2.8 Inches Thick (Matrix)
Plesiosaur Vertebrae Five Dimensions: 8.5 Inches Long, 3.1 Inches Wide, 2 Inches Thick.
Jaw Dimensions: 11.1 Inches Long, 1.3 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
This is a Genuine Fossil
Cretaceous Age, 100 Million Years Old.
Polycotylid plesiosaurs were remarkable marine reptiles that thrived in the oceans during the Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 65 million years ago. Known for their elongated necks and tails and distinctive double-hinged jaws, these reptiles offer important insight into prehistoric marine ecosystems and the diversity of Mesozoic predators. Morocco is a significant site for polycotylid discoveries, including the holotype of Plesiosaurus moroccensis, first described in 2013 by Oussedik and colleagues in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
A defining feature of polycotylid plesiosaurs is their unique dental anatomy. Unlike most other plesiosaurs, which possess a single row of teeth on each jaw, polycotylids have two rows of teeth, with the upper row being more developed than the lower. This specialised dentition suggests a distinct feeding strategy, potentially allowing polycotylids to capture and process prey differently from other marine reptiles.
In addition to Plesiosaurus moroccensis, Morocco has yielded other polycotylid species, including P. cedrimani and P. fraasii, which were described in 2017 by Sweet and colleagues in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. These discoveries highlight the rich fossil record of polycotylid plesiosaurs in North Africa and underscore their evolutionary significance within the Plesiosauria clade. The combination of unique anatomy, fossil abundance, and specialised feeding adaptations makes polycotylid plesiosaurs a key subject for understanding the evolution and diversity of marine reptiles during the Cretaceous.
