Intriguing Varanid Lizard Jaw Fossil with Venom Channel

Description: This is a very rare and intriguing specimen. The jaw section has two teeth, and most interestingly, the venom channel. See the next paragraph for the current hypothesis regarding the evolution of these lizards.

This large lizard is a relative of today’s monitor lizards and Australian goannas. Like the monitors, Paleosaniwa was likely an opportunistic predator who would welcome the chance to raid nests of many creatures in the hope of getting an easy meal. The varanid lizards, including the Komodo dragon, may have weak venom. This discovery of venom in monitor lizards, as well as in agamid lizards, led to the Toxicofera hypothesis: that all venomous lizards and snakes share an common venomous ancestor.

Recently the Fossil Mall associates purchased a large lot of dinosaur, reptile and mammal material from our primary collector. He lives in Montana and has over fifteen years of field collecting experience. Ten days were spent in obtaining this lot. The fossils were discovered in Cretaceous stream channel deposits. Some were surface collected as float, many were partially eroded out of the low-lying surrounding gullies and bad lands. The work of discovery continued upon his return home. There the specimens had to be cleaned and identified, a long and tedious process that lasted many days. Upon completion, all the specimens were photographed, notated and submitted to us at the Fossil Mall for consideration of purchase. Needless to say, we bought the whole batch.

A word regarding the legality of these fossils. Our provider only collects on private ranch and farmlands of Montana and S. Dakota. His relationships with these landowners have been cultivated over many years of door knocking and often difficult negotiations. Our collector, in the beginning stage of a possible collecting arrangement, cannot even contemplate a deal until he has walked the land holdings to discover if there are ancient remains to be found.