Kem Kem pterosaur tooth?

[Max-fossils]

Hi all,

 

This little tooth from the Kem Kem beds was sold to me at a low price.

The seller told me it was a pterosaur tooth. Is this correct?

If so, is it possible to tell the species? (I know that Kem Kem species ID is incredibly hard, so I do expect a 'no' on this... BUT, you never know!)

 

I can always make more pictures if needed.

 

Thanks in advance for your answers!

 

Max

 

[Max-fossils]

[DatFossilBoy]

Certainly looks like pterosaur compared to others I saw.

It is very hard to guess the specie. 

Could it be Coloborhynchus??,

I found this comparable tooth online.

Can anyone help?

[gigantoraptor]

Personally, I believe this is a fish tooth of the genus Aidachar. Here is an example of Uzbekistan, but the genus is also described in the KemKem beds.

[DatFossilBoy]

7 minutes ago, gigantoraptor said:

Personally, I believe this is a fish tooth of the genus Aidachar. Here is an example of Uzbekistan, but the genus is also described in the KemKem beds.

Yes it could very well be.

Hard to tell what it is at 100%.

I know @Tidgy's Dad knows a lot about Moroccan fossils. Maybe he could tell us more?  

Appreciate it.

[Troodon]

Your very first photo looks more like fish

Aidachar from the Kem Kem

[indominus rex]

I agree, it does look fish like. But that's just an opinion and I am not an expert in this department. I think @Tidgy's Dad might be able to help.

[Tidgy's Dad]

Thanks for the confidence chaps.

I would also say Aidachar sp , or a very similar fish. 

I have only one what i think is a pterosaur tooth  from Kem Kem and its much straighter and thinner than this, though I believe there are other undescribed pterosaurs, mine is Siroccopteryx sp,or so I was led to believe. 

 

[Auspex]

If, as appears in the images, it is roughly triangular in cross section, that would probably drive in the last nail for it being from a fish.

[Taogan]

I also have Siroccopteryx sp and it looks different. It looks more fish like to me.

 

[Runner64]

1 hour ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Thanks for the confidence chaps.

I would also say Aidachar sp , or a very similar fish. 

I have only one what i think is a pterosaur tooth  from Kem Kem and its much straighter and thinner than this, though I believe there are other undescribed pterosaurs, mine is Siroccopteryx sp,or so I was led to believe. 

 

Is it possible we could see your pterosaur tooth for comparison?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Sure, but I only have a couple of really bad old  images taken by computer , I'll have to try and remember tomorrow to get some better ones using wifey's camera phone if people want quality. 

Hmmmm. Worse than I thought, and I hope you can see the scale from my fingers. Again, accurate measurement tomorrow if need be. 

 

[Coco]

Hi,

 

We need more pics @Tidgy's Dad ! We don't see well your fingers...

 

Coco

[amon81]

These are my only two pterosaurus teeth...The last one came from New Mexico..The first one from Morocco

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Here is the one I believe to be a pterosaur from the Kem Kem. 

[gigantoraptor]

11 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Here is the one I believe to be a pterosaur from the Kem Kem. 

Looks definitely like a pterosaurus tooth. Is the ruler in cm or inch? If inch, it's a huuuuge tooth. (I guess it will be cm)

[Tidgy's Dad]

4 minutes ago, gigantoraptor said:

Looks definitely like a pterosaurus tooth. Is the ruler in cm or inch? If inch, it's a huuuuge tooth. (I guess it will be cm)

Cm , but they do get bigger than this. 

[gigantoraptor]

The biggest one I ever saw was 6 cm, has anyone here ever seen a bigger one?

[JohnBrewer]

22 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

I only have a couple of really bad old  images taken by computer

Difference Engine by the looks of it. Babbage and Lovelace let you borrow it Adam 

[JohnBrewer]

I’m lucky enough to own a UK pterosaurid tooth, they’re super rare.  

[Max-fossils]

@DatFossilBoy @gigantoraptor @Troodon @indominus rex @Tidgy's Dad @Auspex @Taogan @Runner64 @amon81

Ah shame, I was really hoping it was a pterosaur tooth! Oh well, a big toothed fishy is also really cool 

 

One thing though: I have a feeling that these fish teeth you show are more or less round (and the pterosaur teeth shown are also). Yet mine is laterally compressed, as can be seen in pics 3, 4 and 5. It's a rather thin tooth. Is that maybe just due to the position of the tooth in the jaw? Or perhaps it's another fish?

[Max-fossils]

20 hours ago, gigantoraptor said:

Is the ruler in cm or inch? 

It also says "metric" on the ruler 

[Max-fossils]

18 hours ago, JohnBrewer said:

I’m lucky enough to own a UK pterosaurid tooth, they’re super rare.  

Sounds awesome! But you know how it is on TFF, we must see a picture in order to believe you 

[Haravex]

I agree with the fish identification of Aidachar sp. and easy way to tell these apart from pterosaur is 2 factors the color of the enamel is light and almost looks slightly translucent (not always easy to see from photos) but the second and most identifiable is the shape these teeth start straight from the root of the tooth then curve towards the tip and ome back on its self its a little hard to explain so have a look and this over exaggerated and terrible but to the point paint drawing.

[Max-fossils]

18 hours ago, Haravex said:

I agree with the fish identification of Aidachar sp. and easy way to tell these apart from pterosaur is 2 factors the color of the enamel is light and almost looks slightly translucent (not always easy to see from photos) but the second and most identifiable is the shape these teeth start straight from the root of the tooth then curve towards the tip and ome back on its self its a little hard to explain so have a look and this over exaggerated and terrible but to the point paint drawing.

 

2

Ah okay, I understand better now. Thanks a bunch!