Is it possible to identify which species of Prognathodon this tooth belongs to?

[LauraMedea]

Happy Friday everyone! I purchased this Prognathodon tooth, but the identification tag only lists a generic Prognathodon sp. Can any of you help me understand what species this is? Unfortunately the tooth has no root, perhaps this is one less help, but I can tell you that it comes from the Ouled Abdoun basin in Morocco and that it measures 5 cm. Thanks to anyone who can help me

Edited August 9 by LauraMedea
Sorry, I didn't realize I put pics with shop name and prices

[Brevicollis]

It appears that it might be Thalassotitan atrox, but as I could be easily wrong here, please wait for other opinions first.

 

@pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon, @Praefectus

Edited August 9 by Brevicollis

[LauraMedea]

1 hour ago, Brevicollis said:

It appears that it might be Thalassotitan atrox, but as I could be easily wrong here, please wait for other opinions first.

 

@pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon, @Praefectus

Thanks a lot for your reply 😊How could one deduce that it is a Thalassotitan atrox? What are the characteristics that distinguish it?

[Brevicollis]

Thalassotitan atrox is the only prognathodontine currently officialy described from morocco, and one, if not the most, common of mosasaur/prognathodon species whose teeth are found there. There are other teeth of prognathodontine species, but these species havent been officialy described from this location so far.

 

Th. atrox teeth have a colour change in their enamel, with darker and thicker enamel at the tip. It changes from bright to dark going from the base to the top.

 

Also, Th. atrox teeth have slight prismarism on their teeth, hard to notice, but I think I see it on the last picture, the way the light shines of it.

 

I hope that this is right, or mostly right.

I'm still learning about mosasaur teeth and on distinguishing them, so please forgive me if I made some mistakes.

Edited August 9 by Brevicollis

[LauraMedea]

8 minutes ago, Brevicollis said:

Thalassotitan atrox is the only prognathodontine currently officialy described from morocco. There are other teeth of prognathodontine species, but these species havent been officialy described from this location so far.

 

Th. atrox teeth have a colour change in their enamel, with darker and thicker enamel at the tip. It changes from bright to dark going from the base to the top.

 

Also, Th. atrox teeth have slight prismarism on their teeth, hard to notice, but I think I see it on the last picture, the way the light shines of it.

 

I hope that this is right, or mostly right.

I'm still learning about mosasaur teeth and on distinguishing them, so please forgive me if I made some mistakes.

 

Thanks so much for the information, it's very interesting!

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

5 hours ago, Brevicollis said:

Thalassotitan atrox is the only prognathodontine currently officialy described from morocco, and one, if not the most, common of mosasaur/prognathodon species whose teeth are found there. There are other teeth of prognathodontine species, but these species havent been officialy described from this location so far.

 

Th. atrox teeth have a colour change in their enamel, with darker and thicker enamel at the tip. It changes from bright to dark going from the base to the top.

 

Also, Th. atrox teeth have slight prismarism on their teeth, hard to notice, but I think I see it on the last picture, the way the light shines of it.

 

I hope that this is right, or mostly right.

I'm still learning about mosasaur teeth and on distinguishing them, so please forgive me if I made some mistakes.

 

Seems you're doing quite alright with your identifications

 

I agree, this is T. atrox. A rather clear specimen at that

[Praefectus]

On 8/9/2024 at 4:41 AM, Brevicollis said:

Thalassotitan atrox is the only prognathodontine currently officialy described from morocco, and one, if not the most, common of mosasaur/prognathodon species whose teeth are found there. There are other teeth of prognathodontine species, but these species havent been officialy described from this location so far.

 

Th. atrox teeth have a colour change in their enamel, with darker and thicker enamel at the tip. It changes from bright to dark going from the base to the top.

 

Also, Th. atrox teeth have slight prismarism on their teeth, hard to notice, but I think I see it on the last picture, the way the light shines of it.

 

I hope that this is right, or mostly right.

I'm still learning about mosasaur teeth and on distinguishing them, so please forgive me if I made some mistakes.

 

Prognathodon currii is also described in the Moroccan phosphates. I agree with the identification, T. atrox.

[Brevicollis]

Thank you @Praefectus for correcting me