Marine reptiles
Framed marine reptile tooth
The largest tooth in the series: a sharp crown and an intact root that preserve the power of a marine predator.
180 000 ₽ · In stock
- Size
- 8–9 cm
- Classification
- Marine reptiles, genus undetermined
- Habitat
- Open seas of ancient epochs
- Ref.
- R–0654
The glossy dark-brown crown rises in a cone and curves slightly towards the apex, retaining its sharp tip. Beneath it lies a thick, pale root, rough in texture and noticeably longer than the crown. Together they form a tooth eight to nine centimetres long, in which every part is in its place.
Its owner was a large marine reptile, one of the apex predators of ancient seas. The smooth conical crown, lacking cutting edges, did not slice but pierced and held slippery prey — fish and cephalopods. The powerful root anchored the tooth firmly in the jaw, and worn teeth were replaced by new ones throughout the animal's life.
Eight to nine centimetres is the largest size in the series, and only one tooth reaches it. Crown and root are preserved together — a noticeably rarer find than isolated crowns. The tooth reads as a complete sculpture: a dark lustre above, the pale texture of bone below.
In life
With a powerful lunge, the marine reptile overtook a shoal of fish in open water and closed its jaws, lined with conical teeth.