This is a 2.3" long, rooted tooth from a large, dinosaur-aged plesiosaur (Zarafasaura oceanis). It was collected from the phosphate deposits in the Oulad Abdoun Basin of Morocco. There are three repaired cracks through the crown. About The Plesiosaur Zarafasaura Zarafasaura is a genus of plesiosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 million years ago. Known primarily from fossils found in the phosphates of the Ouled Abdoun Basin in Morocco,
Zarafasaura is notable for being one of the last plesiosaurs to exist before the mass extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs. This marine reptile belonged to the family Elasmosauridae, known for their long necks and small heads, adapted to snatch prey in the open ocean. Zarafasaura had a moderately long neck, although not as extreme as some other elasmosaurs, and a streamlined body with powerful flippers that allowed it to move gracefully through the water. It likely fed on fish and squid, using quick, precise strikes to catch its prey. Zarafasaura's skull is distinctive, with robust jaws and sharp, conical teeth that indicate it was a predator capable of grasping slippery prey. Its fossils provide important insights into the diversity of marine reptiles in the North African region during the Cretaceous and highlight the adaptations of elasmosaurs to a range of marine environments.