espeton Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I found it also in Ramanessin brook. At first I thought it was a perfect enchodus tooth, bur after looking on internet and asking in some other fossil forums it looks like a small Mosasaur tooth. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance for your comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espeton Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 one picture more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Hello Espeton, Welcome to the Forum! I'm not really familiar with the fossils of NJ, but, from what I can find and see online, ... your tooth doesn't appear to have the "s" shape of the enchodus teeth. http://www.fossilsof...hodus_ferox.htm However, it seems rather small, to be a mosasaur tooth. Although... http://www.fossilsofnj.com/trips/trip_050308.htm Hard for me to say. I will leave it to the NJ fossil experts of whom there are plenty on this site! Whatever it is, it's cool! Great Find. Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Thanks for sharing, though. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreekCrawler Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Looks like a small mosasaur tooth to me.I have a few that size from the Upper Cretaceous,taylor shale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest N.AL.hunter Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 When they are small like this, I have a hard time telling if they are croc or a small mosasaur. But my total first guess would be croc of some sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Eaton Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I seem to recall a post on here where the two diagonal lines would suggest mosasaur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greel Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 From photos 3 & 4 I'd agree with Creek Crawler - very small mosasaur tooth. -greel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreekCrawler Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I seem to recall a post on here where the two diagonal lines would suggest mosasaur. It does appear to have the two cutting edges on the crown. I'm not sure that a crocodilian would have those pronounced cutting ridges. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallasaurus Check out the basal mosasauroid's. They were about the size of an adult iguana. Just a thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsofnj Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hello Espeton, Most definitely not Enchodus, coming from Ramanessin it is either mosasaur or croc. Distinguishing between crocodile teeth and small mosasaur teeth is difficult, mosasaur teeth are more prismatic in shape with a well defined cutting edge vs. a conical shape for crocodilian which may have a faint cutting edge. All the croc teeth I have seen from that area are small, most likely from a fish eating gavial. From your pictures I would agreed with the others that it is a small mosasaur tooth. Nice find I’ve attached a rather bad picture of some finds from New Jersey. John It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling. - Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espeton Posted May 21, 2010 Author Share Posted May 21, 2010 Hi John, Thanks for your comments. Actually I am very interested in the pic you send. Could you attach a magnification of this pic where I could see the small mosasaur teeth vs the small croc teeth? thanks a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsofnj Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hello Espeton, Sure, I’ve taken a picture of the profile view where it is easier to see the difference. The mosasaur teeth can show a good deal of variation depending on species and tooth position, but at least one cutting edge is present. On many stream worn small teeth you just can’t tell the difference. As far as I know no large croc teeth have been found from that area. I have seen some pretty big mossy teeth picked up every now and then. If you happen on a spot that produces some giant mossy teeth give me a shout. I’ll do the digging and you can throw me a leftover every now and then, I’m not proud. John It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling. - Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Menser Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Heres some Mos from N. Carolina. Be true to the reality you create. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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