Nicely Prepared Enchodus Jaw Section With Vertebrae

This is a nicely prepared, Enchodus jaw section from the Oulad Abdoun Basin in Morocco. It shows off the large, distinctive "fang" and there are also several fossil vertebrae associated with the jaw section. A really cool piece.

Comes with a display stand.

Enchodus flourished during the Upper Cretaceous and was small to medium in size. One of the genus' most notable attributes are the large "fangs" at the front of the upper and lower jaws and on the palatine bones, leading to its misleading nickname "saber-toothed herring" among fossil hunters and paleoichthyologists. These fangs, along with a long sleek body and large eyes, suggest Enchodus was a predatory species.

Artist's reconstruction of Enchodus.  By Dmitry Bogdanov, Creative Commons License
Artist's reconstruction of Enchodus. By Dmitry Bogdanov, Creative Commons License

It comes from the massive phosphate deposits in the Oulad Abdoun Basin near Khouribga, Morocco. These deposits are mined for phosphate, one of Morocco's biggest exports. The fossils are collected as a byproduct of the mining operations, saving them from certain destruction by the rock crusher.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Enchodus sp.
LOCATION
Oulad Abdoun Basin, Morocco
FORMATION
Phosphate Deposits
SIZE
Rock 5.1 x 3.3"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#150169
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