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LARGE AND RARE LIODON ANCEPS MOSASAUR TOOTH - Khouribga Phosphate Deposits, Morocco CRETACEOUS PERIOD (MAASTRICHTIAN) : 72 - 65 million years ago This is a VERY RARE and THE most often fossil tooth from a type of mosasaur called Liodon (Leiodon) anceps. Very little is known about these fascinating monsters of the prehistoric seas. The one very unique characteristic to aid in the identification of their teeth is that the teeth are laterally compressed, slightly curved and posses smooth enamel. The name LIODON actually is derived from two Greek words and means "SMOOTH TOOTH". Liodon anceps is one of six known species from the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Morocco in the Maastrichtian phosphates of the Ganntour Basin (Morocco). Because of these unique teeth somewhat resembling dinosaur teeth without serrations, it is theorized that this was a highly advanced mosasaur with teeth perfectly designed to rip the flesh of soft-bodied marine prey. This specimen is one of the finest we have had in our inventory. It is INTACT with NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. The classic features that make this tooth unique to this species are all present and in perfect preservation. In every case of 'anceps' species mosasaur tooth we have ever seen sold, ALL were not truly from this species but were of a more common type found in the same deposit. If you value correctly identified fossils in your cabinet or collection, take this opportunity to add this top grade specimen from this very elusive and unique species!
HOW A MYTH CAN BECOME 'FACT' - The Grand Folly of IGNORANCE in the Fossil Business: There is quite a comical story as to how the whole misidentification of this species in the fossil trade got started. It all began with who else, but a stupid and lazy part-time hobby dealer selling fossils online which then spread to the rest of the fossil business. As it stands today, almost every dealer selling fossils is still guilty of this inaccuracy as they too have found it easier to copy an identification and take another's word for it instead of doing their own research and accurately representing what they sell. Several years ago, in our diligence to accurately and correctly identify all known mosasaur species of this deposit in Morocco, we secured a paper published in 2001 through the European Workshop of Vertebrate Paleontology. In the study, six unique species of mosasaur are known and identified from the phosphate mines in Khouribga. Using published and accurate scientific data, we were the very first fossil dealer to properly and accurately identify (where possible) all the different species of mosasaur in the fossils we sell from this deposit. One of these species is Liodon anceps. Another species we attributed many large specimens to is the giant mosasaur Mosasaurus beaugei. At the time, our website was (and still is) highly watched and COPIED. Some fool saw one of our listings and hastily copied this identification but accidentally (or creatively!) combined the genus of one mosasaur with the species of the other and CREATED a species that never existed... MOSASAURUS ANCEPS !!!!! Do an online search of this fictitious name and see for yourself how one falsehood can be so deeply propagated across the entire fossil business by ignorance. "Mosasaurus anceps" is a COMPLETELY BOGUS name that never existed nor has any scientific meaning or value. To heap insult onto injury, every dealer using this made-up name is calling any type of large mosasaur tooth by the name Mosasaurus anceps, when in fact, none of the teeth are remotely related to the L. anceps species which is much more rare than Mosasaurus beaugei.
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. This enabled them to swallow huge prey. What is even more amazing about these creatures is that they had curved teeth on the ROOF of their mouth just before their throat! Any prey still attempting to escape their massive jaws would be firmly held by these teeth just prior to being swallowed whole. The teeth in the jaws of the mosasaur were deeply lodged into the jaw-bone. This tells us that there was huge power in the bite to necessitate such well-anchored teeth. It’s believed that the bite force of the mosasaur was AT LEAST equal to that of a Tyrannosaurus rex! 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! Such creatures were true hunter-killers that had no rival during their existence. Mosasaur remains have been found in many regions all over the globe. A
VERY RARE SPECIES OF MOSASAUR AND NEVER CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED WHEN
SOLD BY OTHERS!
2.2" in length on the leading curve SOLD MV25-001 INCLUDES 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. 