4.8" Mosasaur (Tylosaurus?) Vertebra - Texas

Mosasaur (Tylosaurus?) Vertebra - Texas #197987

This is a 4.8" wide, vertebrae of a Mosasaur from Northern Texas. There are several species of Mosasaurs known from this formation, so identifying an individual vertebrae down to a genus or species is difficult, though given the large size, attributing it to a Tylosaurus may be a safe bet. This large vertebrae is fairly weathered but some areas show nice bone preservation.

Along with plesiosaurs, sharks, fish, and other genera of mosasaurs, Tylosaurus was a primary predator of the Western Interior Seaway during the Late Cretaceous. Among the largest of all the mosasaurs, Tylosaurus reached a maximum lengths of 14 meters (46 feet). A distinguishing characteristic is its elongated, cylindrical premaxilla (snout) from which it takes its name, and which may have been used to ram and stun prey and also for intraspecific combat. Tylosaurus was designated as one of two official Kansas state fossils in 2014.

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