7" Large Fossil Mosasaur (Tylosaurus) Cervical Vertebra - Texas

Large Fossil Mosasaur (Tylosaurus) Cervical Vertebra - Texas #351222

This is a large, 7" wide mosasaur (Tylosaurus proriger) cervical vertebra collected from Fannin County, Texas. It comes out of the Cretaceous-aged Ozan Marl Formation in Texas. The preservation is wonderful, with the majority of the vertebra showing very little weathering. There are two repaired craks through the specimen, each of which required some minor gap fill restoration. The majority of this restoration can be seen along the concave face of the vertebra.

The specimen is accompanied by an acrylic display stand to assist with presentation.

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.

More About Mosasaurs