2.5" Mosasaur Prognathodon Anceps Fossil Tooth Rooted Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA

Location: Oued Zem, Morocco

Weight: 0.4 Ounces

Dimensions: 2.5 Inches Long, 1.1 Inches Wide, 0.7 Inches Thick 

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 in Europe and North America.

Time period: Campanian to Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.

Prognathodon was a highly distinctive mosasaur from the Late Cretaceous, recognized for its exceptional ability to crush and consume armored prey. Unlike many mosasaurs that dominated as fast-swimming apex predators, Prognathodon evolved into a durophagous marine reptile, adapted for feeding on hard-shelled organisms such as ammonites, turtles, and thick-shelled mollusks.

This evolutionary strategy mirrors that of early marine reptiles like Placodus, which also developed crushing jaws to exploit tough prey. For decades, scientists inferred Prognathodon’s feeding behavior from its massive skull and specialized teeth. Breakthrough fossil discoveries in Canada during the early 2000s confirmed these theories, preserving direct stomach contents that included turtle fragments, ammonite shells, and a large fish measuring approximately 160 cm, showing that Prognathodon combined specialization with opportunistic hunting.

Prognathodon’s skull was built for power. Its thick, reinforced jaws and enlarged muscle attachment sites generated immense bite force, while its teeth were designed for both crushing and slicing. This dual-purpose dentition allowed Prognathodon to efficiently process armored prey while still handling soft-bodied animals when available.

Unique skeletal features, including bony sclerotic rings around the eyes, suggest adaptations for deep-diving behavior. These structures likely helped protect the eyes from increased water pressure, enabling Prognathodon to pursue ammonites and other prey in deeper marine environments.

The shift toward a shell-crushing lifestyle may have been driven by ecological pressures such as competition with larger apex mosasaurs, reduced availability of large prey, or the abundance of hard-shelled animals in Late Cretaceous seas. Similar adaptations in mosasaurs like Globidens further support the idea of an evolutionary trend toward hard-prey specialization.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried under the ground for millions of years under intense pressure can be harsh. Rarely does a fossil emerge completely intact and perfect. Most fossils require some restoration, and some are even modified by humans to improve their appearance. Moroccan workers are highly skilled at uncovering and preserving these natural treasures, though natural cracks are often visible on the surface. These cracks are part of the fossil’s natural charm and are not seen as flaws.