What kind of Mosasaur?

[HoppeHunting]

Hi all,

 

This is supposedly a mosasaur tooth. I dug it out of one of those fossil dig kits you can order online. The product stated that it is a mosasaur tooth but did not specify which species. I know there are several creatures that are classified as a mosasaur, but I'd like to know which one mine is. Because it came from a dig kit that didn't specify time periods, I don't know how old the tooth is. It is slightly over one inch, and two very defined cutting edges. I'm aware that assigning this tooth to a specific mosasaur is likely very difficult if not impossible, but I'd appreciate any input. If it's deemed unidentifiable, I'll gladly toss it in a shelf labled "Mosasaur." Just thought it might be cool to know which one I've got. Thanks!

[MeargleSchmeargl]

No expert on Mosas, but that is a cool tooth! 

[indominus rex]

Normally these gift Mosasaur teeth are Liodon Anceps, but I am not sure because sometimes they are completely random. But that is a good sized mosasaur tooth for something that you got in a little kit.

[Miocene_Mason]

I say prognathodon, but that is based off of little more than a feeling. @LordTrilobite Will almost surely know.

[LordTrilobite]

It's hard to tell on these photos whether the enamel is smooth or has vertical ridges. If it's smooth it might be Prognathodon sp.

 

Loose teeth are notoriously hard to identify. There's a lot of heterodonty in some mosasaurs and many mosasaurs have quite similar teeth.

[HoppeHunting]

2 hours ago, LordTrilobite said:

It's hard to tell on these photos whether the enamel is smooth or has vertical ridges. If it's smooth it might be Prognathodon sp.

 

Loose teeth are notoriously hard to identify. There's a lot of heterodonty in some mosasaurs and many mosasaurs have quite similar teeth.

It appears to have vertical ridges. Would it help if I posted some close-up shots of the enamel?

[Tidgy's Dad]

it's almost certainly Moroccan, in my opinion, and therefore could be one of several species. 

 

[LordTrilobite]

If there are vertical ridges, and with that shape, then I'm not sure what genus it is.