MikeR Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I have decided to take a break from shells and delve into the vertebrate world for awhile. In going through several trips worth of North Carolina Cretaceous material, I came across this incomplete tooth which I believe is from a mosasaur. Reading through prior posts I know how difficult they are to identify but I am hoping that there are enough distinguishing characteristics to be able to identify by genus. The size of the tooth is 12 mm x 12 mm x 6 mm. I took pictures with my iphone so if the consensus is better quality pics are needed, I'll drag out the DSLR. 1 "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 @MikeR It's either Mosasaur or Deinosuchus. I will send your photos to Todd, though @sixgill pete may also be able to help. Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Oh, and thanks for coming over to the "dark side!" Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I'm not really sure about this one. I have a very similar piece of a tooth that is probably from the same location. Only it is the tip section. A few people have looked at it and suggested some type of fish. I still believe it is mosasaur. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 9 minutes ago, SailingAlongToo said: @MikeR It's either Mosasaur or Deinosuchus. I will send your photos to Todd, though @sixgill pete may also be able to help. Thanks Jack. I would be surprised if it was Deinosuchus. I have a quite a few and they are all conical whereas this tooth is quite oval and small. Mike "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 11 minutes ago, SailingAlongToo said: Oh, and thanks for coming over to the "dark side!" Jack, I am your father! "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 8 minutes ago, sixgill pete said: I'm not really sure about this one. I have a very similar piece of a tooth that is probably from the same location. Only it is the tip section. A few people have looked at it and suggested some type of fish. I still believe it is mosasaur. Thanks Don. I would surprised if this was fish as well but I don't know what I don't know. "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, MikeR said: Thanks Don. I would surprised if this was fish as well but I don't know what I don't know. Admitting you "don't know" is the 1st step to enlightenment. It's much better than the people who don't know they don't know and think they know everything. Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Mosasaur teeth do not have all those ridges running down them. They are pretty smooth except for a single, slight ridge. On the other hand, plesiosaur teeth do look a lot like the tooth you are showing. If I had to guess, I'd call that plesiosaur. For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I think mossy too John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
non-remanié Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Mosasaur of some sort. Heavily faceted. ---Wie Wasser schleift den Stein, wir steigen und fallen--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Here’s a faceted one from Greens Mill Run in Greenville NC. I don’t know the genus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 50 minutes ago, Al Dente said: Here’s a faceted one from Greens Mill Run in Greenville NC. I don’t know the genus. Gorgeous! Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 There is a publication titled "Mosasaurids (Squamata) from the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco: Biodiversity, paleobiogeography and paleoecology …" Gondwana Research 2014, that shows a variety of mosasaur teeth from Morocco. Here is an illustration that includes a fluted tooth (B) identified as Platecarpus with a question mark. I believe that Tylosaurus also have fluted teeth. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 Hi Al Dente, Someone talked about Platycarpus elsewhere on the forum recently. I believe he noted that a researcher was at least leaning against Platycarpus being present in the Maastrichtian of Morocco, and suggested another genus. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 On 1/5/2019 at 6:05 PM, MikeR said: I have decided to take a break from shells How dare you?! Nice find though, well done! Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 can we have a straight on shot of the basal cavity? Also am thinking that some of the pterygoid teeth may be more ornate than the jaw teeth. (not sure on this though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 On 07/01/2019 at 12:20 PM, Max-fossils said: How dare you?! I am OK with you Max ! Coco 1 ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 9:17 AM, Plax said: can we have a straight on shot of the basal cavity? Also am thinking that some of the pterygoid teeth may be more ornate than the jaw teeth. (not sure on this though) Thanks for looking Don. I hope that this image is not too blurry. "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 6:20 AM, Max-fossils said: How dare you?! Don't worry. It's only temporary. "A problem solved is a problem caused"--Karl Pilkington "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit." -- Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 I'm in the mosasaur camp! That elliptical basal cavity is a good clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-fossils Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 On 1/9/2019 at 10:45 PM, MikeR said: Don't worry. It's only temporary. Phew Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted January 11, 2019 Share Posted January 11, 2019 I'm sticking with the pleisosaur camp!! For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphodan Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Looks mosasaur to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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