15.7" Mosasaur Prognathodon Fossil Jaw Section Teeth Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 5 Pounds 0.1 Ounces
Dimensions: 15.7 Inches Long, 5.3 Inches Wide, 2.6 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 the late Mosasaur showed a trend toward a different kind of predation, living more like the earlier basal placodont reptiles of the Triassic, such as Placodus. This means that Prognathodon specialized in eating tough-shelled prey like shellfish, ammonites, and turtles. For a long time, its diet was only speculation based on its teeth and jaw structure, but two discoveries in Canada in the early 2000s not only revealed its full body shape but also provided insight into its diet. One specimen showed turtle and ammonite fossils in what would have been its stomach. Interestingly, it also contained a 160-centimeter-long fish in its gut, suggesting that while Prognathodon was a specialized predator, it was also opportunistic in its feeding.
Prognathodon had a robust and heavy jaw that would have been capable of withstanding a high bite force supplied by powerful jaw muscles. However, it’s the teeth that should receive special note, as not only are they strong and well-adapted for crushing, they have serrations that can be seen under much more detailed inspection. This makes the teeth specialized for a dual purpose, destroying the protective shells of prey while shearing the flesh within. Another specialization is the presence of bony rings around the eye sockets. This is seen as a deep water adaptation for the eyes to better withstand the higher water pressure of deep water, something which may have often been necessary when diving for ammonites.
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.
