3" Plesiosaur Fossil Vertebrae Cretaceous Dinosaur Era Morocco Zarafasaura COA

Location: Khouribga, Morocco

Weight: 7.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 3 Inches Long, 2.9 Inches Wide, 1.5 Inches Thick

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Plesiosaur Zarafasaura

Zarafasaura oceanis was a long-necked elasmosaurid plesiosaur that inhabited ancient seas during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 72 to 66 million years ago, reaching an estimated length of 23 feet (7 meters). Its name blends the Arabic word Aarafa (“giraffe”) with the Greek sauros (“lizard”), while the species name means “daughter of the sea.” First described in 2011 by Dr. Peggy Vincent of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, the species is known from partial skull remains recovered in Morocco. Closely related marine reptiles, such as Plesiosaurus, a genus within the wider Plesiosauriae clade, lived in ocean environments from 228 million to 61.6 million years ago, were carnivorous, and are exceptionally well documented with 938 known fossil specimens. Despite this diversity, many artistic reconstructions do not clearly differentiate plesiosaur genera, and depictions of Plesiosaurus are often influenced by cryptozoological legends, including the Loch Ness Monster.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Morocco do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures; however, commonly, natural cracks are visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.