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SUPERB QUALITY CRETACEOUS PTERODACTYL 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 is a superb quality,
spectacular tooth from a flying Siroccopteryx pterodactyl. It has a robust design and would have
come from a very large size creature. Present is a fine dark and
rich color and wonderful preserved enamel. Seldom are such teeth
like this found anymore. Tooth enamel is rich with beautiful
colors. Tooth is complete with a single fracture repair but
NO FABRICATION.
An excellent example and HIGHLY recommended!
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.
FINE
GRADE COMPLETE TOOTH FROM A FULL-GROWN PTERODACTYL
1.1" long along
the curve
SOLD DT4-034
INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual
Item - One Only
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