17.2" Mosasaur Prognathodon Fossil Jaw Section Teeth Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 2 Pounds 1.6 Ounces
Dimensions: 17.2 Inches Long, 4.3 Inches Wide, 1.4 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 was a late Cretaceous Mosasaur that exhibited a remarkable shift in predatory behavior, specializing in consuming tough-shelled prey such as turtles, ammonites, and shellfish, reminiscent of the early basal placodont reptiles of the Triassic, like Placodus. While mosasaurs were generally top predators of fish and marine reptiles, Prognathodon adapted to a different ecological niche, likely due to competition for apex predator status or changes in available prey. Fossil discoveries in Canada during the early 2000s revealed not only its full body structure but also its diet: one specimen preserved turtles, ammonites, and even a 160-centimeter-long fish in its stomach, confirming that it was both a specialist and an opportunistic feeder.
Prognathodon had a robust, powerful jaw capable of delivering high bite forces, supported by strong jaw muscles. Its teeth were specially adapted for dual functions: crushing hard shells and shearing soft flesh, aided by serrations visible under close inspection. Another remarkable adaptation was the presence of bony rings around its eye sockets, which likely allowed it to withstand higher pressures during deep-water dives, an adaptation possibly essential for hunting ammonites in deeper ocean layers.
The evolutionary reasons behind Prognathodon’s dietary shift remain uncertain. It may have been a response to intense competition among mosasaurs, a decline in traditional large prey, or an effort to exploit the abundant supply of shelled organisms in its environment. Prognathodon was not unique in this adaptation; contemporaneous mosasaurs like Globidens also evolved large, rounded crushing teeth to consume similar prey. With its combination of specialized crushing teeth, flexible diet, deep-water adaptations, and opportunistic hunting, Prognathodon stands out as one of the most ecologically and evolutionarily innovative mosasaurs of the Late Cretaceous.
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.
