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Enchodus Or Mosasaur Tooth?


espeton

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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.

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Hello Espeton,

Welcome to the Forum! smile.gif

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. unsure.gif

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.sad.gif

Thanks for sharing, though.

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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Looks like a small mosasaur tooth to me.I have a few that size from the Upper Cretaceous,taylor shale.

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Guest N.AL.hunter

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.

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I seem to recall a post on here where the two diagonal lines would suggest mosasaur.

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From photos 3 & 4 I'd agree with Creek Crawler - very small mosasaur tooth.

-greel

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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!

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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

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It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling. - Mark Twain

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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

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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. :D

John

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It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling. - Mark Twain

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Heres some Mos from N. Carolina.

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Be true to the reality you create.

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