Globidens aegyptiacus - extraordinary prey crushing tooth

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:15 pm

Hi folks,

This is one of my favourite fossils. It's an extremely unusually shaped tooth from the very rare marine reptile Globidens aegyptiacus. A 20 foot long mosasaur from the Late Cretaceous (about 100 million years ago). The generic name Globidens means globe tooth. This particular specimen is a back tooth (facing left) and it was found in Morocco. Members of this fascinating genus have also been found in North America.

It's teeth were blunt and bulbous, highly specialised for crushing the hard shells of turtles, clams and ammonites. The enamel was wrinkled to provide a better grip on its armoured prey and the teeth were shallow rooted as the biting pressure is straight down.

Take a look at this link for more information on Globidens.

Bruce

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:45 pm

Remarkable reading Bruce. Never knew anything about this type of teeth. very strange and a great photo and specimen...Thanks

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:29 pm

Very nice photo and fossil, Bruce.

Do not like to come under those teeth.

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:03 am

Bruce,

You aren't mischievous enough. I would have taken that fossil, placed the 'root' in the dirt, and asked members here to try to id this 'mushroom'. Then break it to them the next day as to it's true identity.

Ken Nelson

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:13 pm

Bruce,

Clearly "all that glitter is not gold", but that was truely a golden shot. Great lighting.

Irwin

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:22 am

Thanks for your comments guys.

If you are interested I have posted a close up of the ornate surface corrugation in the Microscope Forum.

Bruce