XL 2.2" Plesiosaur Zarafasaura Tooth Fossil In Matrix Cretaceous Dinosaur Era COA
Location: Khouribga, Morocco
Weight: 5.5 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.2 Inches Long, 2.8 Inches Wide, 1.7 Inches Thick (Matrix)
Tooth Dimensions: 2.2 Inches Long, 0.5 Inches Wide
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The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Plesiosaur Zarafasaura
Zarafasaura oceanis is a relatively recently described genus of long-necked plesiosaur that sheds light on the diversity of Late Cretaceous marine reptiles in North Africa. The name reflects both Arabic and Greek origins, with Zarafa meaning giraffe and saurus meaning lizard, an apt description of its elongated neck and body proportions. The species name oceanis, meaning daughter of the sea, further emphasizes its ocean-dwelling lifestyle.
The species was identified in 2011 by Dr. Peggy Vincent and her team at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, based on incomplete skull remains collected in Morocco. Although fragmentary, these fossils displayed distinctive anatomical features that justified the recognition of Zarafasaura as a separate genus within the Elasmosauridae.
Estimated to have reached around 23 feet (7 meters) in length, Zarafasaura lived between 72 and 66 million years ago, during the final chapter of the Cretaceous Period. It inhabited warm, shallow marine environments teeming with fish and invertebrates. Like other elasmosaurids, it was a carnivorous predator, likely using stealth and rapid strikes of its long neck to capture prey. Zarafasaura provides valuable insight into the evolutionary radiation of plesiosaurs in Gondwanan regions and underscores the rich marine biodiversity of ancient African seas.
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.
