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.34" Fossil Crocodylomorph (Araripesuchus) Tooth - Morocco
This is a crocodylomorph (Araripesuchus) tooth from the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco.
Comes with an acrylic display case.
Comes with an acrylic display case.
Araripesuchus, colloquially nicknamed "RatCroc" upon the discovery of specimens in Argentina, was a notosuchian crocodylomorph from the Cretaceous period, about 125 to 66 million years ago. They lived in the warm and wet regions of what is now South America and North Africa, and specimens have even been found in Madagascar. The name Araripesuchus, meaning "Araripe's Crocodile", refers to the Araripe basin of Brazil, where the first specimens were collected in 1959. The nickname "RatCroc" refers to the small size, terrestrial adaptation, and large faux-canine teeth placed towards the front of the skull, similar to a rat's incisors. Measuring just under 6 feet (2 meters) at the largest, Araripesuchus was likely a smaller predator in its native ecologies.
An artists reconstruction of Araripesuchus. By Todd Marshall. Creative Commons License
An artists reconstruction of Araripesuchus. By Todd Marshall. Creative Commons License
The Kem Kem Group
The Kem Kem Group, also known as the Kem Kem Beds, is a significant geological formation located in southeastern Morocco, specifically in the region of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. This formation dates back to the late Cretaceous period, approximately 95 million years ago. The Kem Kem Beds are primarily composed of sandstone, siltstone, and claystone, interspersed with various sedimentary features that indicate a fluvial to deltaic environment.
The Kem Kem Group is renowned for its rich fossil deposits, which include a diverse array of prehistoric fauna. It has yielded a wide variety of dinosaur fossils, including theropods like Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus, as well as large Sauropod dinosaurs such as Rebbachisaurus. Additionally, the beds are home to many other fossilized creatures, including crocodiles, pterosaurs, fish, and a range of invertebrates.
Paleontologists consider the Kem Kem Group an important site for studying late Cretaceous ecosystems and the evolution of vertebrate life. The fossils found in this region have provided valuable insights into the diversity and behavior of prehistoric species, making it a key location for both scientific research and fossil collecting. The striking landscapes of the Kem Kem Beds, with their colorful rock formations and dramatic geological features, also attract geologists and tourists interested in the natural history of the area.
A paper on this assemblage can be found at: Vertebrate assemblages from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern Morocco: An overview
One of the tunnels dug into the Kem Kem beds by local miners following the productive fossil beds.
The Kem Kem Group, also known as the Kem Kem Beds, is a significant geological formation located in southeastern Morocco, specifically in the region of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. This formation dates back to the late Cretaceous period, approximately 95 million years ago. The Kem Kem Beds are primarily composed of sandstone, siltstone, and claystone, interspersed with various sedimentary features that indicate a fluvial to deltaic environment.
The Kem Kem Group is renowned for its rich fossil deposits, which include a diverse array of prehistoric fauna. It has yielded a wide variety of dinosaur fossils, including theropods like Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus, as well as large Sauropod dinosaurs such as Rebbachisaurus. Additionally, the beds are home to many other fossilized creatures, including crocodiles, pterosaurs, fish, and a range of invertebrates.
Paleontologists consider the Kem Kem Group an important site for studying late Cretaceous ecosystems and the evolution of vertebrate life. The fossils found in this region have provided valuable insights into the diversity and behavior of prehistoric species, making it a key location for both scientific research and fossil collecting. The striking landscapes of the Kem Kem Beds, with their colorful rock formations and dramatic geological features, also attract geologists and tourists interested in the natural history of the area.
A paper on this assemblage can be found at: Vertebrate assemblages from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern Morocco: An overview
One of the tunnels dug into the Kem Kem beds by local miners following the productive fossil beds.
SPECIES
Araripesuchus sp.
LOCATION
Taouz, Kem Kem Basin, Morocco
FORMATION
Kem Kem Beds
SIZE
.34" long
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#235995
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