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PLATECARPUS ASSOCIATED UPPER JAW SET - Khouribga, Morocco LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 96 - 66 million years ago Currently, we have many large vertebrate fossils in preparation. This associated jaw set from a Platecarpus ptychodon is indicative of the type of very rare material we will be making available as these projects come to completion. This set of maxillae (upper jaws) were completely extracted out of their native matrix and fully cleaned and repaired. They were found together and a great deal of time went into the proper preparation of these extremely rare specimens. This medium size (25 ft in length) mosasaur is an identified mosasaur species from the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Morocco and one of five species known in the Maastrichtian phosphates of the Ganntour Basin (Morocco). Some very important points should be highlighted to emphasize the immense value of this set. First off, the larger jaw has NO restoration and is only repaired. On the slightly smaller jaw, there is ONLY approximately 2% restoration. This a very small area that was missing and has been filled in. To protect the integrity of this valuable fossil, this area was purposely left a slightly lighter color to display that the majority of the jaw is authentic and that it is nearly complete. Secondly, the teeth are not composites but are the original teeth that were in the jaw when discovered. Some of these teeth required repair back onto their respective roots still intact in the jaw but ALL are original! Many jaw fossils are entirely composites as it is rare to find specimens with their original teeth. Where there were teeth missing, we left it alone, again to maintain the integrity, value and scientific importance of the specimen. *** As seen in the last photos, ALL but the smallest posterior tooth of the left maxilla have erupting teeth easily visible from the interior of each jaw. This is a pure visual treat and one of the many fascinating, valuable and important features of this fossil. The
Platecarpus family of mosasaurs was a mid-sized mosasaur with
lengths reaching 25 feet and with teeth not as stout as the
Tylosaurs. This has led scientists to believe that the diet of
Platecarpus consisted of softer creatures smaller in size to that which
Tylosaurus fed upon. The Platecarpus genus is still a largely
unknown family with an extensive variety of species.
This is a very rare opportunity to acquire a true
scientific, museum grade associated set of maxillae of the Platecarpus
ptychodon.
Back
in the second half of the 1700's, geologists made a remarkable discovery
near the southernmost city of the Netherlands. A huge skull
was unearthed belonging to a gigantic reptile which had lived 65 million
years ago in the waters around what is now Maastricht. The creature was
later named the mosasaur, meaning ‘lizard of the Meuse or Maas river'. Mosasaurs
had long heads, strong and flexible necks and hydrofoil-like limbs. Their
large jaws had stabbing teeth and had a hinge in the mid-lower jaw similar
to modern day constrictor snakes.
Mosasaurs ate large fish,
shellfish, sharks and some ate mollusks. They
lived during the same period T. rex roamed the earth.
Mosasaurs can
easily be considered the T. rex of the prehistoric seas! 10.15" in length by 2.5" overall height and 8.65" in length and 2.75" in height, respectively $1995 MOS06 INCLUDES LARGE DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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MOSASAUR by BRIAN CHOO THIS IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A STRICTLY ENFORCED COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY WAY |
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Mosasaurs
were the largest lizards that ever evolved and attained lengths of
almost 60
feet with a skull 6 foot long!
The mosasaur was a powerful swimmer who spent its entire life in the sea.
Mosasaurs had long and powerful bodies whose tails and limbs were adapted
for swimming. They probably swam by moving their long body in a
snake-like way, also using their finned tail to propel them forwards. They
steered with small, webbed feet. 
This enabled them to swallow huge prey.