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RARE SPECIES ARTICULATED HALISAURUS MOSASAUR SPINAL COLUMN WITH OTHER SKELETAL ELEMENTS IN ORIGINAL MATRIX Khouribga, Morocco LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 73 - 65 million years ago Aside from the articulated skeleton we are offering (MOSKEL1), this is only the second sizeable naturally articulated fossil specimen in matrix of this rare species we have encountered. This is a wonderful and 100% natural portion of the vertebral column and skeleton of the mosasaur Halisaurus arambourgi. This species is the smallest identified mosasaur species from the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Morocco and one of of six species known in the Maastrichtian phosphates of the Ganntour Basin (Morocco). The species was just published in March of 2005 and it is known from limited cranial and post-cranial remains. Fossils of this creature are rare and usually are limited to small isolated finds of teeth only. Because of the delicate nature of this creature's skeleton, remains found have been poorly preserved and often are found fragmented and scattered in the formation. To discover an associated partial skeleton like this specimen is uncommon and newsworthy! The delicate vertebrae are beautifully articulated with graceful chevron and dorsal processes still present. There are numerous other bones and teeth partially or fully exposed in the matrix including the pectoral girdle. There is also a wealth of remains BELOW the visible surface as this is a COMPLETELY ORIGINAL AND NATURAL specimen as it was found - the matrix block being 4 inches thick. It is common for local Moroccan diggers to fabricate fake "tourist" pieces out of reproduction and junk bones placed in an artificially created matrix. Some of these can be seemingly impressive to the naive collector or armchair dealer. In contrast, this is a scientific-grade specimen of pure natural origin and minimal preparation. NO FABRICATION OR COMPOSITING OF UNRELATED BONES. Rare and highly recommended as Morocco is now cracking down and enforcing a country-wide export ban on all fossils of natural origin.
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. 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! Such creatures were true hunter-killers that had no rival during their existence.
RECENTLY DISCOVERED SPECIES - SUPERB DISPLAY - ASSOCIATED AND ARTICULATED REMAINS ARE RARE!!! 15.25" in length x 8.75" overall with original matrix $2995 MOS001 INCLUDES STAND 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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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'. 
This enabled them to swallow huge prey.