Description
- Theropod Tooth
- Species: Carcharodontosaurus saharicus
- Age: Cretaceous, 100 Million Years Old
- Source: South of Taouz, Morocco
- Size: 35mm
- Image shows exact item received.
Theropods are a family of dinosaurs characterised by hollow bones and 3 fingers and toes on each limb. Originally carnivorous, a number of theropod groups evolved to become herbivores and omnivores. Theropods first appeared during the late Triassic period 231.4 million years ago. Therapoda included the majority of large terrestrial carnivores from the Early Jurassic until at least the close of the Cretaceous, about 66 Million years ago. Some Theropods were incredibly well known: Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus, Carnotosaurus, Compsognathus etc. Therapods went on to evolve into the 11,000 living species of Birds we see today.
This fossil dinosaur tooth is from Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, and was found South of the town of Taouz in Morocco in an area of sedimentary deposits known as the Kem Kem Beds. Many fossils have been found in this area, predominantly of fish as well as Pterosaurs and Theropod dinosaurs. Due to the estuarine and coastal habitat, along with the abundance of fish fossils it is believed many of the smaller to medium sized Pterosaurs and Dinosaurs in this area were piscivorous (fish-feeders); the abundance of these smaller animals supported a population of larger predatory species such as Carcharodontosaurus.
Carcharodontosaurus saharicus lived in North Africa between 100 and 94 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period. The first recorded evidence of this dinosaur was in the form of two teeth found in 1925; then an almost complete skeleton was found in 1931, though unfortunately this specimen was destroyed during the Second World War. Luckily a complete skull was found in 1995 which enabled further study of this large Theropod. In fact; Carcharodontosaurus is one of the largest known Theropods, reaching 13m in length and weighing up to 7 metric tons, similar to that of a T. rex.
This species most characteristic feature is its teeth, which are also what give it its name. Carcharodontosaurus jaws are lined with sharp serrated teeth that bear an incredible resemblance to that of the Great White Shark (Carcharodon sp.). In fact the name Chacharodontosaurus means ‘Chacharodon tooth’.
