42" Fossil Xiphactinus Skull - Terror Of The Inland Seaway!

83 million years ago the fearsome, predatory fish Xiphactinus audax terrorized the inland seaways of what is now Kansas. Reaching sizes of up to 15-20 feet long this veracious predatory, resembled a gargantuan, fanged tarpon.

This is a MASSIVE 42" long fossil skull of Xiphactinus audax collected from the Smoky Hills Chalk of Gove County, Kansas. The lower jaw alone measures 14" long and the entire fish would have been around 15 feet in length. The skull has excellent depth and relief against the matrix. There are a total of 25 real teeth, most in excellent condition, plus many disarticulated vertebra and ribs. The largest tooth is 2" long. The cranial crest is present and articulated.

Two crow shark (Squalicorax) shed teeth in the posterior area of the skull, plus the trauma to this area, indicates that sharks and other scavengers most likely ate the body of the fish. Restoration is less than 5%. This is an exciting and striking display fossil of one of the largest bony fish to have swam in Earth's oceans.

This specimen has been mounted on a large slab of fossilized wave rock, depicting the likely paleo-environment at the time of fossilization. Specimen has mounting hardware included and is 100% ready for a wall mount. The genus of Xiphactinus is the largest known bony fish in the fossil record. UNIQUE decorator fossil!

This specimen will be shipped via freight in a custom crate. The shipping cost will be billed after purchase. Please inquire if you need a shipping quote or to arrange payment.

Xiphactinus has appeared in the BBC's Sea Monsters and National Geographic's Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure as well as being labelled a "Prehistoric Terror" in River Monsters.