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Mosasaur ID


Aurelius

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I'm really pleased to have acquired this lovely Moroccan mosasaur jaw this evening. I am flat broke, so I had to persuade/bully my family to all chip in as an early birthday present, but it's a lovely example, with a number of original in-situ teeth. 


I was wondering whether there might be enough there to narrow down the species?

 

I included a British pound coin for scale, which I appreciate is not very useful for an international audience. It's 20x17 inches. The jaw, not the coin.

 

 

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6 minutes ago, Aurelius said:

I'm really pleased to have acquired this lovely Moroccan mosasaur jaw this evening. I am flat broke, so I had to persuade/bully my family to all chip in as an early birthday present, but it's a lovely example, with a number of original in-situ teeth. 


I was wondering whether there might be enough there to narrow down the species?

 

I included a British pound coin for scale, which I appreciate is not very useful for an international audience. It's 20x17 inches. The jaw, not the coin.

 

Wonderful specimen! Great find! Hopefully someone on this forum will be able to help you narrow down the species!

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Sorry can’t help with the ID... mosasaur experts will sure know I think.

Very very nice piece,congratulations! :) 

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I'm no expert but I see wide, fat teeth which is characteristic of prognathodon. Possibly prognathodon giganteus? 

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I like your piece. Will you perform additional prep or leave as is?

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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4 minutes ago, snolly50 said:

I like your piece. Will you perform additional prep or leave as is?


I'm not sure about that. For the moment, I will leave it as is, but I do wonder if a skilled preparator (not me with my current level of skill) could do something with this, perhaps in terms of a 3D reconstruction. There does seem to be quite a bit in the block.

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I also think it looks like a Prognathodon jaw. Awesome piece.

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Life started in the ocean. And so did my interest in fossils;).

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Thanks guys. I think prognathodon is likely, but I know it can be tricky to properly identify these jaws, although there are some quite decent bones present here. 

 

@LordTrilobite - I wonder if you might be able to offer an opinion? :)

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Looks like right lower jaw plus change. I think it looks like possible Prognathodon sp. or Eremiasaurus heterodontus.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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