XL 2.2" Mosasaur Hoffmanni Fossil Tooth Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA & Stand

Location: Oued Zem, Morocco

Weight: 1 Ounce

Dimensions: 2.2 Inches Long, 1.2 Inches Wide, 1 Inch Thick 

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Comes with a free Acrylic Base (Stand) & Mineral Tack.

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

100 - 66 Million Years old, Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian Epoch.

Name:  Mosasaurus Hoffmanni

Named By: Mantelli - 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 

Time period: Campanian to Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.

Hoffmanni was a late Mosasaur that exhibited a shift towards a different form of predation, resembling the behavior of the much earlier basal placodont reptiles of the Triassic, such as Placodus. This indicates that Prognathodon specialized in feeding on tough-shelled prey like shellfish, ammonites, and turtles. For a long time, the diet of Prognathodon was merely speculative, based on the teeth and jaw structure, but two discoveries in Canada in the early twenty-first century not only revealed the full body shape of Prognathodon but also shed light on its diet. One specimen contained turtle and ammonite fossils in the area where its stomach would have been. Interestingly, it also had a one-hundred-and-sixty-centimeter-long fish in its gut, suggesting that although Prognathodon was a specialized predator, it was also opportunistic in its feeding habits.

Hoffmanni possessed a robust and heavy jaw capable of withstanding high bite forces generated by powerful jaw muscles. However, its teeth are particularly noteworthy: not only are they strong and well-suited for crushing, but they also feature serrations visible under close inspection. This makes the teeth adapted for dual purposes—destroying the protective shells of prey while shearing flesh. Another adaptation is the presence of bony rings around the eye sockets, which are thought to be a deep-water adaptation, helping the eyes withstand higher water pressure when diving for ammonites.

The reason why Hoffmanni shifted towards this diet when mosasaurs are generally considered apex predators of other reptiles and fish remains uncertain. It’s possible that intense competition for the ecological niche of top predator pushed Prognathodon to adapt to a different food source, thereby reducing competition. Alternatively, the populations of large prey animals traditionally associated with mosasaurs may have declined, forcing a dietary shift. It could also simply be that Hoffmanni exploited an abundant food supply. What is certain is that Prognathodon was not alone in adopting this diet, as another mosasaur, Globidens, also had notably large, rounded crushing teeth.

 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.