LARGE WHITE SIROCCOPTERYX PTEROSAUR TOOTH - Tegana Formation - Kem Kem, Morocco

MIDDLE CRETACEOUS PERIOD:  96 million years ago

Pterosaur fossils were only recently attributed to a species in 1999 from the Mid-Cretaceous deposits of the southern border of Morocco.  To date, the only pterosaur species named from Morocco is Siroccopteryx moroccoensis.  With an estimated wingspan of nearly 20 feet, this anhanguerid ranks amongst the largest pterosaurs known.  There have been comparisons of this creature to other anhanguerid species known from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil.  Only jaw fragments and teeth have been discovered from Morocco and much has yet to be learned about this fascinating and giant flying reptile from prehistory.

This tooth from a Siroccopteryx is large and complete.  It is in the rare white color and features colorful blood red grain beneath the ivory enamel.  There is a hairline fracture that is virtually undetectable but the tooth is completely genuine, a full tip and with no restoration.

The Pterosaur was a flying reptile (commonly referred to as Pterodactyl "wing finger") of the order Pterosauria.  They existed from the late Triassic to the Cretaceous Periods (228 - 65 million years ago) with the earlier Triassic species having long, fully toothed jaws and long tails.  The later forms had a stump for a tail, no teeth and a jaw more like a beak than the elongated jaw of the earlier species. 

At least 60 genera of pterosaurs have been found with sizes ranging from a sparrow to monsters with wingspans in excess of 40 feet!  The wings were thin membranes of skin, similar to the wings of bats, and extended along the sides of the body.  

They were attached to the extraordinarily long fourth finger of each arm.  The bones were hollow and had openings at each end.    Unlike typical reptiles, pterosaurs had a breastbone that was developed for the attachment of flight muscles and a brain that was more developed than comparable dinosaurs of similar sizes.  There is no fossil evidence of feathers.  Most researchers now believe that pterosaurs were adapted for active flight, not just gliding as was earlier believed.

STUNNING AND COMPLETE TOOTH IN RARE WHITE COLOR

1.75" long along the curve

SOLD     DT4-007     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

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