2" Mosasaur Prognathodon Anceps Fossil Tooth Rooted Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 0.5 Ounces
Dimensions: 2 Inches Long, 1.1 Inches Wide, 0.7 Inches Thick
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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 to 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 Late Cretaceous mosasaur that evolved a unique predation style, resembling early Triassic placodont reptiles such as Placodus. Unlike typical apex-predator mosasaurs, it specialized in tough-shelled prey, including turtles, ammonites, and shellfish. For years, its diet was speculative, inferred from teeth and jaw structure, until early 21st-century discoveries in Canada revealed both its full body shape and feeding habits. One fossil specimen contained turtle and ammonite remains, as well as a 160-centimeter-long fish, demonstrating that Prognathodon was a specialist that also fed opportunistically.
Prognathodon had a robust, heavy jaw capable of withstanding high bite forces, supported by strong jaw muscles. Its teeth were highly specialized: strong, capable of crushing shells, and serrated for shearing flesh, allowing it to consume both armored and soft-bodied prey efficiently. Additionally, the presence of bony rings around the eye sockets suggests adaptations for deep-water hunting, helping its eyes withstand the higher pressures encountered when diving for ammonites.
The reasons behind Prognathodon’s dietary shift remain uncertain. It may have been driven by intense competition for the apex predator niche, a decline in large prey populations, or the chance to exploit abundant hard-shelled food sources. Interestingly, other mosasaurs, such as Globidens, also developed large, rounded crushing teeth, indicating a shared evolutionary adaptation for 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.
