Description
- Fossil Skeleton of Tethysaurus nopscai
- Age: Late Cretaceous, Early Turonian (~93–99 million years old)
- Location: Goulmima / Asfla area, Morocco
- Size: 1085mm x 635mm
- Exact item pictured.
- Includes professional display case
This specimen represents a complete or near-complete skeleton of Tethysaurus nopscai, an extinct mosasauroid — a group of marine reptiles related to modern lizards and snakes that inhabited the ancient Tethys Sea in the Late Cretaceous. Tethysaurus was a medium-sized, carnivorous marine squamate, it is thought to be the missing link between Mosasaurs and modern day Varanids (Monitor Lizards)
There are only 6 “complete” specimens known to exist and this is one of them. It is considered complete in paleontological terms (most on display are 50-90% complete, based on volume). The parts not visible are thought to still be in the surrounding matrix.
Though not the largest Tethysaurus specimen found it is beautiful articulated and more complete than some of the other 6 know specimens; being one of only 3 that contain a near complete skull. The addition of a large Ammonite really makes this an amazing museum-quality display.
Tethysaurus nopscai was first described from multiple specimens recovered in the Goulmima region of southeastern Morocco. These specimens include nearly complete skulls, mandibles, vertebrae, and portions of the appendicular skeleton. The genus name refers to the ancient Tethys Sea, with the species name honouring palaeontologist Baron Ferenc Nopcsa.
Fossils from Tethysaurus can show features typical of mosasauroids, such as well-defined centra and processes (projecting bony parts) that articulate with adjacent vertebrae. These elements provide information about the animal’s size, posture, and swimming adaptations.
Specimens as complete as this one are incredibly scientifically important because they preserve skeletal anatomy in association, allowing researchers to study the complete structure of extinct species and compare this to modern day species to gain further understanding into how they moved and lived!
