|
|
|
LARGE ARTICULATED PARTIAL PLATECARPUS MOSASAUR SKELETON IN ORIGINAL MATRIX Khouribga, Morocco LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 73 - 65 million years ago This is a wonderful and 100% natural portion of the vertebral column and skeleton of the mosasaur Platecarpus ptychodon. This species is from the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Morocco and one of of six species known in the Maastrichtian phosphates of the Ganntour Basin (Morocco). The partial skeleton and vertebra seen in this piece would have been from a very large mosasaur likely around 15 - 18 feet in overall length. Unlike the hoards of tourist and junk Ebay matrix material floating around the market artificially fabricated with fake bones and cheap grade fossils, this rare, very large specimen is 100% ORIGINAL AS FOUND and is not a composite of multiple bones, artificial matrix, etc.. Every bone you see above in this partial skeleton is located in its ORIGINAL matrix exactly as it was found. We removed the matrix around bones to better expose the beautiful articulation. The sides are also solid matrix. The bottom only of the block of matrix is reinforced with a high-strength plaster and the entire specimen has been treated with a chemical hardener widely used in scientific institutions to strengthen and preserve the fossil. Genuine articulated fossils in the matrix are not common, especially when they show as much detailed anatomy as this substantial example. This is a very three dimensional specimen with loads of high relief and display appeal. 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.
RARE!!! NATURAL "AS FOUND" LARGE MATRIX PARTIAL SKELETON WITH ALL ORIGINAL BONES AND POSITIONING! 22" x 14" overall with original matrix $2495 MOS002 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
|
MOSASAUR by BRIAN CHOO THIS IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A STRICTLY ENFORCED COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY WAY |
|
2495 |
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.