-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 I've always been fascinated by the Cretaceous sea and its myriad of terrifying carnivores, many that would've made Jaws look meek. After watching BBC's Sea Monsters, I made it my goal to compile a box of sea monster fossils. I started this journey 10 years ago, and finally completed the box recently. Allow me to present my Predators of the Cretaceous Sea collection, and take you on a journey to the most dangerous sea of all times. The box measures 20.25 inches long. Inside are 24 unique predator fossils. I will introduce them from left to right, top to bottom: Rhombodus binkhorsti Age: 70.6 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Severn Formation Locality: Bowie, Maryland, USA Size: 1 meters Diet: Molluscs and crustaceans art by Nobu Tamura --------------- Polyptychodon interruptus Age: 105.3 - 94.3 mya | Cretaceous Formation: Stoilensky Quarry stratigraphic unit Locality: Stary-Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia Size: Maybe 7 meters (This is a tooth taxon so size is not confirmed) Diet: Anything it could catch Note: If you consider Polytychodon a nomen dubium, then this is a Pliosauridae indet. art by Mark Witton ----------------- Prognathodon giganteus Age: 70.6 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Ouled Abdoun Basin Locality: Khouribga Phosphate Deposits, Morocco Size: 10-14 meters Diet: Everything art by SYSTEM(ZBrushCentral) --------------- Coloborhynchinae indet. Age: 99.7 - 94.3 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Kem Kem Beds Locality: Southeast Morocco Size: 7 meters (high estimate) Diet: Fish and cephalopods 15 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Globidens phosphaticus Age: 70.6 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Ouled Abdoun Basin Locality: Khouribga Phosphate Deposits, Morocco Size: 6 meters Diet: Molluscs art by Dan Varner --------------- Spinosaurini indet. Age: 99.7 - 94.3 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Kem Kem Beds Locality: Begga, Southeast Morocco Size: 15 meters (high estimate) Diet: Anything it could catch. Likely favored fish Note: This is more of a river predator than a marine one. Placing him here because there are Brazilian Spinosaurids found in coastal environments art by Davide Bonadonna --------------- Deinosuchus rugosus Age: 80 - 73 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Marshalltown / Englishtown Formation Locality: Ramanessin brook, Monmouth county, Central NJ Size: 9 meters Diet: Anything it could catch art by DW Miller --------------- Tusoteuthis longa (squid pen) Age: 87 - 82 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Niobrara Formation; Smoky Hill Chalk Member Locality: Gove County, Kansas, USA Size: 11 meters Diet: Cephalopods, fish, and possibly small marine reptiles art by Nobu Tamura 13 1 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Protostega gigas (claw) Age: 93.9 - 89.8 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Carlile Shale; Lower Fairport Chalk Member Locality: Russell County, Kansas, USA Size: 3 meters Diet: Crustaceans, jellyfish and seaweed art by Christopher Chavez --------------- Hesperornis sp. (vertebrae) Age: 84.9 - 70.6 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Pierre Shale; Sharon Springs Member Locality: Custer County, South Dakota Size: 1.8 meters Diet: Fish art by Jaime Chirinos --------------- cf. Simoliophis libycus (vertebrae) Age: 99.7 - 94.3 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Kem Kem Beds Locality: Begga, Southeast Morocco Size: 2-4 meters Diet: Unknown. Maybe fish art by Hyrotrioskjan --------------- Enchodus libyus Age: 70.6 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Ouled Abdoun Basin Locality: Khouribga Phosphate Deposits, Morocco Size: 1.5 meters Diet: Fish and cephalopods art by Craig Dylke 13 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Elosuchus cherifiensis Age: 99.7 - 94.3 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Kem Kem Beds Locality: Begga, Southeast Morocco Size: 8 meters (high estimate) Diet: Fish, but could probably eat anything it could catch Note: Elosuchus fossils are found in river deposits. However, George Corneille, who has dug in Morocco told me of croc fossils there with bite marks from large sharks. Also, Elosuchus was a fully aquatic crocodilian, similar to the now-freshwater Indian Gharial, the only surviving species that a lineage that once inhabited coastal environments. Based on these traits, we believe that Elosuchus probably did spent some time in the sea, akin to the saltwater crocodile. art by Davide Bonadonna --------------- Platypterygius sp. Age: 105.3 - 94.3 mya | Cretaceous Formation: Stoilensky Quarry stratigraphic unit Locality: Stary-Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia Size: 7 meters Diet: Fish and cephalopods art by Dust Devil --------------- Platecarpus sp. Age: 84 - 81 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Blufftown / Ripley Formation Locality: Barbour-Russell County, Alabama, USA Size: 4.3 meters Diet: Fish, cephalopods and other small animals art by Oda Takashi --------------- Ptychodus whipplei Age: 89.3 - 85.8 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Austin Chalk Formation; Atco Member Locality: Dallas County, north Texas Size: 10 meters Diet: Large bivalves, ammonites and crustaceans art by Brian Engh 13 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 cf. Polycotylus sopotsko Age: 100.5 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Gaysky Quarry stratigraphic unit Locality: Gaysky District, Orenburg Oblast, Russia Size: 5 meters Diet: Anything it could catch art by S Abramowicz --------------- Coniasaurus crassidens Age: 96 - 93 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Eagle Ford Group; Britton Formation Locality: Mansfield, Tarrant County, Texas, USA Size: 1.6 meters Diet: Fish and other small animals art by Olorotitan --------------- Cretoxyrhina mantelli Age: 87 - 82 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Niobrara Formation; Smoky Hill Chalk Member Locality: Gove County, western Kansas, USA Size: 8 meters Diet: Everything except the largest mosasaurs art by Mark Witton --------------- Xiphactinus audax Age: 87 - 82 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Niobrara Formation; Smoky Hill Chalk Member Locality: Gove County, western Kansas, USA Size: 6 meters Diet: Anything it could swallow art by Dan Varner 14 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Dakosaurus sp. (juvenile tooth) Age: 155.7 - 140.2 mya | late Jurassic - early Cretaceous Formation: Kimmeridge Clay > Faringdon Sand Formation Locality: Wicklesham Pit, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK Size: 5 meters Diet: Anything it could catch. Probably ignored small creatures. Note: This tooth came from a Jurassic deposit. However, Dakosaurus sp. was also found in the early Cretaceous, hence its inclusion here art by PaleoGUY --------------- Zarafasaura oceanis Age: 70.6 - 66 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Ouled Abdoun Basin Locality: Khouribga Phosphate Deposits, Morocco Size: 7 meters Diet: Small fish and cephalopods art by James Kuether --------------- Scapanorhynchus texanus Age: 84.9 - 70.6 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Black Creek Group; Tar Heel / Bladen Formation Locality: Bladen County, North Carolina, USA Size: 3 meters Diet: Small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans art by unknown source --------------- Onchopristis numidus (rostral barb) Age: 99.7 - 94.3 mya | late Cretaceous Formation: Kem Kem Beds Locality: Southeast Morocco Size: 8 meters Diet: Crustaceans, molluscs and smaller fish Note: This is more of a river predator than a marine one. Placing him here because they supposedly migrated between marine and freshwater environments to spawn Screenshot of Planet Dinosaur by BBC 17 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilnut Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Super collection and matched with pictures. Thanks for posting really enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsonwheels Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Fantastic collection ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimin013 Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 This is just awesome. Great pics of your fossils and the artwork on the animals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Hi, Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Amateur Paleontologist Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Very nice collection - and beautifully presented, too Opalised fossils are the best: a wonderful mix between paleontology and mineralogy! Q. Where do dinosaurs study? A. At Khaan Academy!... My ResearchGate profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Nicely presented Andy like all your other displays. I chuckled when I saw that you added a Spinosaurid tooth to your assemblage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 I really enjoyed this presentation. Informative, and visually stimulating. Excellent work! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokietech96 Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 This post is one of the best I’ve read! Amazing presentation and amazing collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runner64 Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Lovely @-Andy- I could only imagine how difficult it was to amass all of these but it was worth it! The information provided with each taxon was very informative and I learned quite a bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 This is an incredible bit of perseverance. Also a great learning experience! On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norki Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Awesome collection. Have you thought about including Protosphyraena? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abstraktum Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Superb collection and superb pictures! Great stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masp Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 @-Andy- Diverse and impressive marine collection, the presentation is awesome. Really like how you included unique pics with each specimen too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Wow, Andy! What a collection and what a presentation! This would make any museum envious. I'm saving this post and printing out two copies to give to each of my grandsons who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for putting this collection and its presentation together and for sharing it with us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Astounding presentation, both in the case and in this wonderful thread. Thank you so much for going to all this trouble for us. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dracarys Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Great job Andy! Glad to see you spending your Covid downtime well. You’re getting married soon though and I hope that this doesn’t stop your passion for a Fossils. Haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Fantastic collection and presentation of great educational value. It's very good it all fitted into a not-so-big box for even better effect per cubic inch A few thoughts: I wouldn't place mosasaurs with ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs as they replace the latters and would add more fishes like Acrodus/Cretodus/Chimaera, ammonites and belemnites (why not?). Also didn't Ptychodus teeth look more like this?: My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 There are many species of Ptychodus. Yours and Andy's a re different species. Nice work, Andy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted May 10, 2020 Author Share Posted May 10, 2020 Thank you for the kind comments guys. It means a lot to me that you appreciate this thread. In case anyone is wondering, here is ver 1 and ver 2 of the box from years ago. 20 hours ago, Troodon said: Nicely presented Andy like all your other displays. I chuckled when I saw that you added a Spinosaurid tooth to your assemblage Thanks Frank. No way I can exclude the famous Spino. I wish I could put one of the Brazilian Spinosaurids which were found at coastal environments, but the Moroccan Spinosaurid is the next best thing. 19 hours ago, Norki said: Awesome collection. Have you thought about including Protosphyraena? I did. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough space in the box. There's so many more species of fish and sharks I want to include. 18 hours ago, grandpa said: Wow, Andy! What a collection and what a presentation! This would make any museum envious. I'm saving this post and printing out two copies to give to each of my grandsons who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for putting this collection and its presentation together and for sharing it with us. I am so happy to hear that I made something good enough for you to pass to your grandsons! 18 hours ago, Dracarys said: Great job Andy! Glad to see you spending your Covid downtime well. You’re getting married soon though and I hope that this doesn’t stop your passion for a Fossils. Haha! No way man. Fossils are a part of my life now. 17 hours ago, RuMert said: Fantastic collection and presentation of great educational value. It's very good it all fitted into a not-so-big box for even better effect per cubic inch A few thoughts: I wouldn't place mosasaurs with ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs as they replace the latters and would add more fishes like Acrodus/Cretodus/Chimaera, ammonites and belemnites (why not?). Also didn't Ptychodus teeth look more like this?: I've thought of including more creatures and invertebrates like ammonites but the box has ran outta place. I think 20.25 inches is as big as it gets. 1 Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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