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1" Cretaceous Giant Sawfish (Onchopristis) Rostral Barb
This is a nicely preserved, rostral barb of the giant sawfish, Onchopristis numidus. These barbs are fairly delicate so they are almost always found broken, particularly the larger specimens. This one is small but in good shape with no damage or repairs.
These fossils are found in a thin bed that outcrops around the edge of a large plateau near Taouz, Morocco. Local miners collect these fossils by digging tunnels into this plateau following this layer. A paper on this assemblage can be found at: Vertebrate assemblages from the early Late Cretaceous of southeasternMorocco: An overview
These fossils are found in a thin bed that outcrops around the edge of a large plateau near Taouz, Morocco. Local miners collect these fossils by digging tunnels into this plateau following this layer. A paper on this assemblage can be found at: Vertebrate assemblages from the early Late Cretaceous of southeasternMorocco: An overview
Onchopristis, or “giant saw”, is a genus of extinct giant sawskate that lived during the Upper Cretaceous in what is now North Africa. It had a long, hard, shovel-shaped snout called a rostrum. The saw-like rostrum, lined on both sides with modified tooth-like structures with hooks and barbs called denticles. Onchopristis used its intimidating, 2-meter long rostrum to unearth crustaceans at the bottom of shallow waters like sawfish do today.
With the modern sawfish, the rostrum is covered with electrosensitive pores that allow the sawfish to detect slight movements of prey hiding in the muddy sea floor. The rostrum also serves as a digging tool. Should suitable prey try to swim past, the normally lethargic sawfish springs from the bottom and slashes at it with its saw. Sawfish also defend themselves with their rostrum against intruding predators such as sharks.
The bizarre-looking Onchopristis were frequently torn apart by Spinosaurus when this enormous ray traveled up freshwater streams to breed and lay eggs. Onchopristis probably lived in schools. Crocodiles, Spinosaurus and other fish-eating theropods would have feasted on the 8-meter long rays.
With the modern sawfish, the rostrum is covered with electrosensitive pores that allow the sawfish to detect slight movements of prey hiding in the muddy sea floor. The rostrum also serves as a digging tool. Should suitable prey try to swim past, the normally lethargic sawfish springs from the bottom and slashes at it with its saw. Sawfish also defend themselves with their rostrum against intruding predators such as sharks.
The bizarre-looking Onchopristis were frequently torn apart by Spinosaurus when this enormous ray traveled up freshwater streams to breed and lay eggs. Onchopristis probably lived in schools. Crocodiles, Spinosaurus and other fish-eating theropods would have feasted on the 8-meter long rays.
SPECIES
Onchopristis numidus
LOCATION
Taouz, Kem Kem Basin, Morocco
FORMATION
Kem Kem Beds
SIZE
1" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#72719
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