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Awesome Mosasaur (Prognathodon) Jaw Section - 7.4"
This is a really cool fossil of Prognathodon, a very large type of Mosasaur. It's a section of jaw still in the original matrix that shows a pair of it's extremely large teeth, but more interestingly you can see one of the unerupted, replacement teeth growing inside the jaw. Mosasaur's like dinosaurs and sharks replaced their teeth frequently as they become worn or broken. There were teeth continuously growing inside the jaw bone, underneath and to the side the visible teeth which could move into place when tooth was lost.
Another feature that makes this specimen so unique is that it has NO RESTORATION or COMPOSITING and the quality of preparation is outstanding. Mosasaurs jaws are almost always found crushed and fragmented. Whenever you see one that looks in it's in a life-like state it's because it's been put back together, missing pieces often restored, and teeth often composited. This specimen is in it's natural state, just with superb preparation work done to remove the matrix from around it.
Another feature that makes this specimen so unique is that it has NO RESTORATION or COMPOSITING and the quality of preparation is outstanding. Mosasaurs jaws are almost always found crushed and fragmented. Whenever you see one that looks in it's in a life-like state it's because it's been put back together, missing pieces often restored, and teeth often composited. This specimen is in it's natural state, just with superb preparation work done to remove the matrix from around it.
About Mosasaurs
Mosasaurs were large, carnivorous marine reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 90 to 66 million years ago. Though often mistaken for dinosaurs, they were actually more closely related to modern monitor lizards, including the Komodo dragon. Over time, their ancestors transitioned from land to sea, evolving paddle-like flippers, streamlined bodies, and powerful tails that made them highly efficient swimmers. Some species developed crescent-shaped, shark-like tail fins that allowed for strong, sustained propulsion through open water. Sizes varied widely, with many species measuring 20 to 30 feet long, while the largest—such as Mosasaurus hoffmannii—may have exceeded 50 feet in length.
As apex predators, mosasaurs occupied the top of the marine food chain. Their long jaws were lined with sharp, conical teeth ideal for gripping slippery prey, and fossil evidence shows they fed on fish, sharks, ammonites, seabirds, and even other mosasaurs. Despite their fully aquatic lifestyle, mosasaurs were air-breathing reptiles and had to surface regularly, much like modern whales. They thrived in oceans around the world until the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago, which wiped out the dinosaurs and many marine reptiles, bringing the age of mosasaurs to an end.
Mosasaurs were large, carnivorous marine reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 90 to 66 million years ago. Though often mistaken for dinosaurs, they were actually more closely related to modern monitor lizards, including the Komodo dragon. Over time, their ancestors transitioned from land to sea, evolving paddle-like flippers, streamlined bodies, and powerful tails that made them highly efficient swimmers. Some species developed crescent-shaped, shark-like tail fins that allowed for strong, sustained propulsion through open water. Sizes varied widely, with many species measuring 20 to 30 feet long, while the largest—such as Mosasaurus hoffmannii—may have exceeded 50 feet in length.
As apex predators, mosasaurs occupied the top of the marine food chain. Their long jaws were lined with sharp, conical teeth ideal for gripping slippery prey, and fossil evidence shows they fed on fish, sharks, ammonites, seabirds, and even other mosasaurs. Despite their fully aquatic lifestyle, mosasaurs were air-breathing reptiles and had to surface regularly, much like modern whales. They thrived in oceans around the world until the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago, which wiped out the dinosaurs and many marine reptiles, bringing the age of mosasaurs to an end.
SPECIES
Prognathodon sp.
LOCATION
Oulad Abdoun Basin, Morocco
FORMATION
Phosphate Deposits
SIZE
Specimen 7.4" Long, 7" Tall, 3.8" Deep
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#16110
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