Globidens phosphaticus (Bardet & Pereda-Suberbiola, 2005)
Era: Mesozoic
Period: Upper Cretaceous
Stage: Maastrichtian (72.1 - 66 million years)
Origin: Oued Zem (Morocco)
Formation: Abdoun Ouled Basin
Coordinates: 32°50'40.7"N 6°34'13.5"W
Tooth measurements: 35 x 31 mm / 1,37 x 1,22"
Weight: 31 g / 0,069 lb
Description: Crown of unusual malacophagous mosasaur. The enamel on this piece is 100% natural; it has no restorations or paint.

This piece will travel insured in a safety package to arrive in perfect condition.

Information: Globidens phosphaticus, commonly known as the "round-toothed mosasaur" or "balloon-toothed", was a formidable marine reptile that inhabited the seas during the Upper Cretaceous in various regions of the world, including North America, Morocco, Angola and Indonesia.
Reaching a length of up to 6 meters, Globidens stood out among its mosasaur relatives for one distinctive feature: its unusual teeth. Unlike the sharp teeth typical of other mosasaurs, Globidens had nearly 40 round, golf-ball-shaped teeth embedded in its jaws. These round teeth, rather than weapons for catching agile prey, were tools designed for crushing. Their arrangement in the jaw allowed only the tops of the teeth to be visible, obscuring their spherical shape.
This peculiar dental adaptation gave Globidens a unique evolutionary advantage: the ability to crush the shells of tough mollusks, such as clams and hard-shelled crabs. The elongated, peg-like front teeth likely played a crucial role in this task, allowing Globidens to deftly extract mollusks from the seafloor or even pry them off rocks.
In its marine habitat, Globidens occupied a specialized ecological niche as a deep-sea predator, adapted to exploit the food resources offered by mollusks and other hard-shelled invertebrates. Its unique anatomy and distinctive feeding strategy make it a fascinating example of the evolutionary diversity that characterized Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems.