Prehistoric Prognathodon Mosasaur Full Skull & Jaws!

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Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic, Fine A...

By Artemis Gallery

Nov 16, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-11-16 10:00:00 2023-11-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Ethnographic, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-14161
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Nautical, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  North Africa, Morocco, Khouribga Province, Maastrichtian era (late Cretaceous) ca. 83.6 to 66 million years ago. A spectacular fossilized skull from a prehistoric marine reptile known as Prognathodon, a member of the mosasaur family. Prognathodon is a rare and recently discovered species and thought to be the largest genus of mosasaurs! Note the teeth located in the throat, pterygoid teeth that are believed to help hold prey, suggesting they were capable of swallowing massive pieces (if not the whole animal) in one bite! Prognathodon also had double-hinged jaws (like modern snakes) and flexible skulls that could easily gulp down things much larger than their mouth. The main maxilla teeth also had serrations; some are still present on this specimen! This carnivorous lizard possessed a streamlined body, flattened tail, and webbed feet and somewhat resembled flippered crocodiles. Size: 17.6" L x 6" W (44.7 cm x 15.2 cm); 18" H (45.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  If you have seen the new "Jurassic World" films, Mosy is the name of the mosasaur and the main attraction of the aquatic feeding show - she also is the unlikely hero, breaching herself to eat the monster hybrid dinosaur at the end. This computer-generated character is about twice as large as the biggest mosasaur fossils discovered, but an exciting visualization of these fierce predators, and even includes the palatal teeth in action, chomping down on a shark. The Mosasaurus genus is made up of dozens of species of these marine reptiles generally known as mosasaurs, and while still debated, they are widely considered to be more closely related to reptiles and not dinosaurs. The name means "Meuse lizard," as the first specimen was found near the Meuse (Maas) River in the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Fittingly, the geological time period Maastrichtian, is named after the formations of this Dutch city in which Mosasaurus was found, and the Maastrichtian stage marks the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period that killed off all mosasaurs and dinosaurs. Before the mass extinction, Mosasaurus were the dominant marine predators, preying on fish, sharks, and even other mosasaurs! Many different species of mosasaur swam throughout the oceans and inland seaways, and Mosasaurus gained global distribution during the late Cretaceous, and their remains have been found on 6 continents.
  
  Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #182377

  Condition

  Professionally prepared with expected restoration and repairs, with 90% or more original material. Restoration to tips and 2 teeth, and several tips and enamel reattached. Missing a few teeth, but overall fantastic preservation.
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