2.9" Fossil Mosasaur (Halisaurus) Jaw Section - Morocco

Fossil Mosasaur (Halisaurus) Jaw Section - Morocco #113837

This is a 2.9" fossil jaw section of a Mosasaur (Halisaurus) from the Phosphate Deposits near, Khouribga, Morocco. The bone has been crushed and the teeth are no longer in position. There are two rooted teeth in close proximity to the bone section and other sections around the teeth.

Comes with a display stand.

Artists reconstruction of a Halisaurus. By Nobu Tamura

Halisaurus is a comparatively small Mosasaur, maxing out at around 10 feet in length. It was a sleek and likely quick member of the family. Besides its small size, it had distinctive backward-curving teeth likely used for grasping slippery prey like fish. A paper describing this species can be found below.

Description of new specimens of Halisaurus arambourgi BARDET & PEREDA SOBERBIOLA, 2005 and the relationships of halisaurinae

It comes from the massive phosphate deposits in the Oulad Abdoun Basin near Khouribga, Morocco. These deposits are mined for phosphate, one of Morocco's biggest exports. The fossils are collected as a byproduct of the mining operations, saving them from certain destruction by the rock crusher.