2.2" Mosasaur Prognathodon Anceps Fossil Tooth Rooted Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Oued Zem, Morocco
Weight: 0.6 Ounces
Dimensions: 2.2 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 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 powerful Late Cretaceous mosasaur that evolved a unique feeding strategy unlike most apex marine reptiles. Instead of relying solely on fast-moving fish and soft-bodied prey, Prognathodon specialized in hard-shelled animals, including turtles, ammonites, and shellfish. Its predation style has been compared to early Triassic placodont reptiles such as Placodus, which were also adapted for crushing armored prey.
For many years, Prognathodon’s diet was based mainly on tooth and jaw anatomy. However, important early 21st-century fossil discoveries in Canada revealed not only its full body form but also direct evidence of its feeding behavior. One remarkable specimen preserved the remains of turtles, ammonites, and even a 160-centimeter-long fish, proving that Prognathodon was a specialized shell-crusher that also fed opportunistically when larger prey was available.
Prognathodon possessed a robust, heavy jaw built to withstand extremely high bite forces, supported by powerful jaw muscles. Its teeth were highly specialized—strong enough to crush shells and serrated to shear flesh—allowing it to efficiently consume both armored and soft-bodied prey. This unique dental adaptation made Prognathodon one of the most versatile and formidable mosasaurs in prehistoric oceans.
Fossil evidence also shows bony rings around the eye sockets, suggesting adaptations for deep-water hunting. These structures likely helped the eyes resist increased water pressure, allowing Prognathodon to dive deeper in search of ammonites and other deep-sea prey.
The evolutionary reasons behind Prognathodon’s dietary shift remain uncertain. Possible factors include competition with larger apex predators, changes in prey availability, or the opportunity to exploit abundant hard-shelled food sources. Other mosasaurs, such as Globidens, also evolved rounded, crushing teeth, indicating a shared evolutionary trend toward durophagy (hard-prey feeding).
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.
