Goulmima teeth identification?

[msantix]

Hi, i asked previously about a couple of Pliosaur teeth which i now have, but there are these two other teeth from the Goulmima site in Morocco that look quite different and i was wondering if they could be Polycotylid teeth or from some other marine reptile. The first tooth is 6.2cm (2.44 inch) and the other tooth is 4.1cm (1.6 inch). Is it possible to narrow these teeth down when the enamel looks worn?. Thanks.

 

[msantix]

I guess i should ask does anyone have any pictures of Polycotildae teeth? or Libonectes (an Elasmosaur) teeth?

[-Andy-]

Tooth 2 is definitely the pliosaur Brachauchenius lucasi

 

As for tooth 1, it's lacking details but the size and robust-ness of the tooth makes it very likely pliosaur instead of polycotylid. For some reason I cannot fathom, Elasmosaur and Polycotylid teeth are very rare in Goulmima.

 

This is a tooth in my collection that is most likely Polycotylidae due to its size, fine striations and curvature. I am not ruling out Libonectes however.

[msantix]

Wow! thanks for the help, i didn't realise that both teeth could be Pliosaur due to the preservation and lack of some diagnostic features like striations (although the size points to that direction). Interesting to hear that Elasmosaur & Polycotylid teeth are rarer, i don't have much of a clue about why that is since Elasmosaurs and Polycotylids probably outnumbered the Pliosaurs - maybe there is a collection bias? or something along those lines?

 

That is a beautiful tooth you have there  I think Polycotylid is a good guess for the id, the only Elasmosaur teeth i have seen are those common Zarafasaura teeth on the market and the tooth you have might be a good fit for Thililua or Manemergus.

[-Andy-]

50 minutes ago, msantix said:

Wow! thanks for the help, i didn't realise that both teeth could be Pliosaur due to the preservation and lack of some diagnostic features like striations (although the size points to that direction). Interesting to hear that Elasmosaur & Polycotylid teeth are rarer, i don't have much of a clue about why that is since Elasmosaurs and Polycotylids probably outnumbered the Pliosaurs - maybe there is a collection bias? or something along those lines?

 

That is a beautiful tooth you have there  I think Polycotylid is a good guess for the id, the only Elasmosaur teeth i have seen are those common Zarafasaura teeth on the market and the tooth you have might be a good fit for Thililua or Manemergus.

 

Tooth 1 could be a Polycotylidae in the Dolichorhynchops or Polycotylus family as their rooted teeth can be robust, but as far as I know, their roots are also recurved. Straight roots like tooth 1 are closer to pliosaur.

 

Here are some examples of rooted Dolichorhynchops teeth:

 

And some examples of rooted Polycotylus teeth:

 

Yeah, it took me a while to find my tooth. I am surprised by the lack of Elasmosaur and Polycotylid teeth there. As far as I know, Polycotylids usually outnumber pliosaurs. Maybe it's due to pliosaur teeth being bigger and more visible to diggers?

[msantix]

Sorry to update a month old thread, but i just received the teeth and i have to say tooth 2 is very thin and quite small.....very different to the Pliosaur teeth i have. So i am thinking that tooth 2 instead could be from a Polycotylid instead of Pliosaur.

 

Tooth 1 however is massive! (in comparison) it is very robust, and i am starting to be confident about labelling it as Pliosaur. I took some some photos to show the comparison

 

 

 

 

This one shows my two Pliosaur teeth on the left