Mosasaur Fossil Tooth 3D Floating Frame Cretaceous Morocco Genuine Marine Reptile Specimen with Certificate

Description

Overview – Genuine Mosasaur Fossil Tooth in 3D Floating Display Frame

This listing presents a 100% genuine Mosasaur fossil tooth, professionally mounted in an elegant 3D floating display frame that showcases the specimen from every angle. Sourced from the world-famous Cretaceous deposits of Morocco, each tooth is carefully selected for quality and authenticity, representing the fearsome marine reptiles that dominated the Late Cretaceous seas. The photos show an example of the high-grade specimen you will receive, selected to ensure excellent form, visible enamel, and strong collector appeal. Every fossil arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the included 1 cm scale cube in the images offers reliable size reference.

The Mosasaurs – Apex Predators of the Late Cretaceous Seas

Mosasaurs were large marine reptiles belonging to the family Mosasauridae, within the order Squamata, making them relatives of modern monitor lizards and snakes. Their serpentine bodies, powerful tails, and paddle-like limbs made them formidable swimmers capable of high-speed pursuit. Many species exceeded 10–15 metres in length, occupying the role of apex predators in prehistoric oceans.

Their teeth are highly distinctive: conical, sharply pointed, and equipped with fine serrations or cutting edges depending on the species. These teeth were perfectly adapted for gripping slippery prey such as fish, squid, ammonites, turtles, and even other marine reptiles. As teeth were shed and replaced throughout a Mosasaur’s life, isolated teeth such as this one are among the most commonly preserved remains.

Geological Context – Cretaceous Marine Sediments of Morocco

Most Mosasaur teeth from Morocco originate from Late Cretaceous marine phosphate deposits, dating approximately 70–66 million years old (Maastrichtian stage). These deposits are part of the extensive phosphate basins of the Khouribga region, which represent ancient oceanic environments rich in marine life. The sediments formed on the seabed of the Tethys Ocean, a warm, tropical sea that once stretched across what is now northern Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East.

The phosphate-rich layers are well known for yielding a wide diversity of marine fossils, including:

• Mosasaurs

• Plesiosaurs

• Sharks and rays

• Bony fish

• Ammonites and other invertebrates

• Marine turtles

These deposits preserve fossils in excellent condition due to rapid burial, mineral-rich waters, and stable chemical conditions that favour long-term preservation of enamel and dentine.

Morphology and Key Identifying Features of Mosasaur Teeth

Your Mosasaur tooth displays the classic characteristics associated with the family Mosasauridae:

• Conical, streamlined crown, ideal for gripping prey

• Well-defined enamel surface, often showing natural colour variation from honey-brown to dark grey

• Slight curvature, enhancing piercing capability

• Visible carinae (cutting edges), depending on the species

• Robust root or base, often partially preserved depending on the specimen

These features make Mosasaur teeth both highly recognisable and scientifically valuable. Enamel preservation is typically excellent due to strong mineralisation during fossilisation.

Depositional Environment – The Tethys Ocean Ecosystem

During the Late Cretaceous, Morocco was submerged beneath the Tethys Ocean, an expansive tropical sea teeming with life. Warm, shallow waters created ideal hunting grounds for large marine reptiles. The ocean floor received continual phosphate deposition from organic activity, forming the rich fossil beds that remain today.

These conditions preserved Mosasaur remains within fine marine sediments, allowing researchers and collectors alike to study the fascinating ecology of these ancient predators. The presence of abundant prey species, coral reefs, shelly fauna, and other reptiles paints a vivid picture of a thriving marine ecosystem shortly before the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous.

Scientific and Collector Value

Mosasaur fossils are prized by collectors for their dramatic connection to one of the ocean’s most powerful prehistoric predators. Teeth provide insight into evolutionary biology, feeding strategies, and morphological diversity across species. Their durability makes them reliable and attractive display pieces.

Mounted in a 3D floating frame, this specimen becomes a striking, museum-quality presentation. The frame protects the fossil while allowing it to appear suspended in space, ideal for collectors, educators, and enthusiasts seeking a distinguished natural history piece.

Product Details

• Fossil Type: Mosasaur Tooth

• Family: Mosasauridae

• Order: Squamata

• Geological Age: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)

• Locality: Morocco

• Presentation: 3D floating display frame

• Authenticity: Guaranteed genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity

• Photograph: Shows an example of the specimen quality you will receive

• Scale Cube: 1 cm for accurate measurement reference

This genuine Mosasaur tooth offers a fascinating glimpse into the apex predators of the Cretaceous seas—expertly displayed and ready to enhance any fossil collection.