XL 2.2" Plesiosaur Zarafasaura Tooth Fossil In Matrix Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA

Location: Khouribga, Morocco

Weight: 5.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 2.7 Inches Long, 2.5 Inches Wide, 1.8 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Tooth Dimensions: 2.2 Inches Long, 0.5 Inches Wide

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Plesiosaur Zarafasaura

The marine reptile Zarafasaura oceanis is a member of the Elasmosauridae, a group of plesiosaurs distinguished by their exceptionally long necks, compact heads, and powerful flippers. These animals were superbly adapted for life in Mesozoic oceans, using their flippers to “fly” through the water in a manner similar to modern sea turtles and penguins.

The genus name Zarafasaura combines the Arabic word for giraffe with the Greek word for lizard, emphasizing its elongated neck, while the species name oceanis means “daughter of the sea.” The species was identified and described in 2011 by Dr. Peggy Vincent and her research team at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, based on fossil material collected in Morocco. These remains, though incomplete, were distinctive enough to establish Zarafasaura as a new and separate genus of elasmosaurid.

Estimates suggest that Zarafasaura measured around 23 feet (7 meters) in total length and lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, roughly 72 to 66 million years ago. During this time, vast shallow seas covered much of northern Africa, creating rich marine habitats filled with fish, ammonites, and other invertebrates. Zarafasaura would have been an active predator within these ecosystems, using its long neck and sharp teeth to capture agile prey. Its discovery highlights the growing understanding of plesiosaur diversity in Gondwanan continents and shows that North Africa hosted a wide range of specialized marine reptiles near the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried underground for millions of years under immense pressure can be rough. Rarely does a fossil emerge fully intact and perfect. Most fossils require some restoration, and some are modified by humans to improve their appearance. Moroccan workers are highly skilled in discovering and conserving these natural treasures, though natural cracks often appear on the surface. These cracks are part of the fossil's natural charm and are not faults.