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The unnamed giant Tylosaur of the Moroccan Phosphates is revealed at last. The great and mighty Hainosaurus is a previously unrecognized macropredator present in the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Morocco. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365437927_First_Record_of_a_Tylosaurine_Mosasaur_from_the_Latest_Cretaceous_Phosphates_of_Morocco Authors: @Praefectus @BrennanThePaleoDude @pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon Abstract: The latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco preserve the highest biodiversity of mosasaurid squamates anywhere in the world. Intensive sampling over the past century has uncovered at least ten genera and thirteen species from the mosasaur subgroups Halisauromorpha, Plioplatecarpinae, and Mosasaurinae. Notably missing from the assemblage are members of the macropredatory Tylosaurinae. The Tylosaurinae were globally rare in the Maastrichtian and their apparent absence has been previously explained by either collecting bias, ecological preference for deeper waters, or habitat restriction to higher paleolatitudes. Here, we describe a new tylosaurine mosasaurid, Hainosaurus boubker sp. nov., based on several partial skulls and isolated teeth originating from the Couche III layer of the Sidi Chennane Phosphate quarry near Oued Zem, Morocco. It is unique amongst tylosaurine mosasaurids in possessing blade-like teeth that are laterally compressed, encircled by enamel facets, and differentiated along the dental margin. The discovery of this new taxon in the Maastrichtian of Morocco is remarkable as it represents both the youngest species of Tylosaurinae and the first occurrence in North Africa. It has been a pleasure to work on this project and I am so happy to finally see it come to a conclusion. Tremendous thank you to Boubker Chaibi (Instagram @foussilouedzem) for discovering and donating the type material. Additionally, thanks to Carlos Espinosa (Instagram @carlost_sapiens) for bringing Hainosaurus to life. Funding for this project was provided by the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences’ Charles H. Sternberg Scholarship for vertebrate fossil research. Thank you very much the members of the AAPS. Map and Stratigraphic column of the Moroccan Phosphates Premaxilla of Hainosaurus boubker Premaxilla of Hainosaurus boubker Maxillae of Hainosaurus boubker Dentaries of Hainosaurus boubker Hainosaurus boubker right maxilla and premaxilla Anterior teeth Hainosaurus boubker Mid-marginal and posterior teeth H. boubker Discoverer and namesake of H. boubker, Boubker Chaibi (Instagram @foussilouedzem) Hainosaurus boubker by Carlos Espinosa (Instagram @carlost_sapiens) Reconstructed skull of H. boubker at the Sternberg Museum as part of the Sahara Sea Monster's traveling exhibit. By @jnoun11. Hainosaurus boubker skull sketch by Instagram @yoshisrgr8 “The Warden of the Cretaceous Seas” by Instagram @primal_art_saurus Hainosaurus vs. Thalassotitan 2 versions. No ammonites, ammonites. Memento mori by Twitter @ttorroo Hainosaurus vs. Thalassotitan Hainosaurus boubker by Instagram @icthyovenator by Instagram @primal_art_saurus Thanks for reading.

Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you about the crab carapace which I found in 2012. I found it at the Rocky Point Quarry, Rocky Point, North Carolina, USA. This little crab carapace captivated me and I am so thankful to Alex Osso for responding to a trip post I made in 2012. I thought I had a regular little carapace, but with his help and then Don Clements and among several others, the carapace made it's way to George Phillips. Then the research began. I want to thank everyone whom has been a part of this adventure, timeless research, keeping me informed, answering my questions and just taking to needed time to complete the project! Thank you to so many whom also include Barry W. M. van Bakel, Alex Osso, George Phillips, Don N. Clements, Torrey Nyborg, Francisco J. Vega, Trish Weaver, The North Carolina Fossil Club and the manager of the Rocky Point Martin Marietta Quarry, Doug Pope. The crab carapace has been named: Cenocorystes libbyae n. sp. I donated the crab carapace to the Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina. The carapace found by the Mark Mckoy Family is in the article too! Such an amazing find! WOW! Have a wonderful 2019 everyone and happy fossil hunting! I posted a link to the article below, hope it works. If not let me know and I may need a little help from a friend with it. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667118303495?dgcid=coauthor. The article is published by ELSEVIER, Cretaceous Research. The pic below is from the day I found it in 2012. All the best! Happy hunting in 2019! Libby