3" Plesiosaur Fossil Vertebrae Cretaceous Dinosaur Era Morocco Zarafasaura COA

Location: Khouribga, Morocco

Weight: 5.7 Ounces

Dimensions: 3 Inches Long, 3 Inches Wide, 2.1 Inches Thick

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Plesiosaur Zarafasaura

Zarafasaura oceanis is an elasmosaurid marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 72–66 million years ago) that measured about 23 feet (7 meters) in length and was a carnivorous ocean predator. The genus name combines the Arabic Aarafa, meaning “giraffe,” with the Greek sauros, meaning “lizard,” while the species name translates to “daughter of the sea.” Described in 2011 by Dr. Peggy Vincent of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, it is known from fragmentary cranial fossils discovered in Morocco. Plesiosaurus, a related genus within the broader Plesiosauriae family, lived exclusively in marine environments from approximately 228 million to 61.6 million years ago and was also carnivorous. With 938 documented specimens, Plesiosaurus is one of the best-represented marine reptiles in the fossil record, though artistic depictions often fail to distinguish it from other plesiosaurs and are frequently influenced by Loch Ness Monster mythology.

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.