15.1" Mosasaur Prognathodon Fossil Jaw Section Teeth Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 3 Pounds 11.1 Ounces
Dimensions: 15.1 Inches Long, 4.4 Inches Wide, 2.4 Inches Thick
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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, a Late Cretaceous Mosasaur, displayed a unique form of predation reminiscent of early basal placodont reptiles from the Triassic, such as Placodus. Unlike most mosasaurs that were apex predators of fish and marine reptiles, Prognathodon specialized in hard-shelled prey, including turtles, ammonites, and shellfish. For many years, its diet was inferred solely from jaw and tooth structure, but fossil discoveries in Canada during the early 2000s provided concrete evidence. One specimen preserved turtle and ammonite fossils in its stomach, along with a 160-centimeter-long fish, indicating that while Prognathodon was specialized, it was also an opportunistic feeder.
Prognathodon had a robust, heavy jaw capable of withstanding high bite forces from powerful jaw muscles. Its teeth were particularly notable: strong, well-adapted for crushing, and serrated upon close inspection. This combination allowed Prognathodon to destroy protective shells while simultaneously shearing flesh, giving it a unique dual-purpose feeding advantage. Additionally, the presence of bony rings around the eye sockets suggests a deep-water adaptation, allowing the eyes to withstand higher water pressures—likely essential for diving to hunt ammonites in deeper ocean zones.
Prognathodon’s adaptations highlight a remarkable example of ecological specialization and evolutionary innovation among mosasaurs, demonstrating how some species modified their predatory strategies to exploit unique food sources in the Late Cretaceous seas.
Why Prognathodon shifted to this diet, given that mosasaurs are generally seen as top predators of reptiles and fish, remains uncertain. It might have been that competition for the apex predator niche was so intense that Prognathodon needed to adapt to a different food source to survive, avoiding direct competition with other predators. Alternatively, the decline in large prey animals traditionally linked to mosasaurs could have driven a dietary switch. It might also have been an effort to exploit an abundant food supply. What is certain is that Prognathodon was not alone in this dietary shift; another mosasaur, Globidens, also had notably large, rounded crushing teeth suited for this diet.
Please be aware of the nature of fossils:
Being buried under tons of pressure for millions of years can be harsh. Few fossils emerge intact and perfect. Most have been restored to some degree, and some are modified by humans to improve their appearance. In Morocco, workers do a highly professional job of excavating and conserving these natural treasures, but natural cracks are often visible on their surface. These cracks are part of the fossil's natural charm and are not seen as flaws.
