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30" Fossil Primitive Whale (Pappocetus) Jaw - Morocco
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This is a museum quality, fossil jaw of the giant, primitive whale (Pappocetus lugardi) from Boujdour, Morocco. It measures 30" in length and is stunningly preserved with ten original teeth present. There is only some minor repair and crack fill restoration done to this impressive piece. It comes with a custom metal display stand.
Pappocetus is a genus of extinct protocetid cetacean. Protocetids are considered to be one of the earliest examples of whale development during the time they were transitioning from land to sea. Fossil records indicate that they are Middle Eocene in age, existing after Pakicetus (earliest known whale) and prior to Zygorhiza (basilosaurid). These protocetids had become much more whale-like in appearance, featuring a more streamlined body with paddle-like forelegs, and hind-limbs that were greatly reduced in size. Their robust teeth and root structures suggest that they were aquatic carnivores, relying on smell and vision as their most important senses for hunting prey. It's unlikely that by this point they had developed echolocation systems used by modern whales.
SPECIES
Pappocetus lugardi
LOCATION
Gueran, Boujdour, Western Sahara, Morocco
FORMATION
Aridal Formation
SIZE
30" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#227169
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