Tylosaurus proriger Mosasaur Snout

This is a fine example of the muzzle and jaws of a Mosasaur known as Tylosaurus proriger. It consists of both the right and left mandibles as well as the maxilla and associated bones and teeth. The display side was found facing downwards, resulting in preservation of many of the teeth in situ. The snout is compressed in part as a consequence of the fact that the bones were articulated in such a way that the jaws could be expanded to accommodate larger prey. While Tylosaurus was a large Mosasaur with a maximum length of some 15 meters, this one was a juvenile perhaps 3-4 meters in overall length. These seagoing lizards became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous, and have the modern-day Varanids (monitor lizards) as their closest living relatives.