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5.3" Primitive Whale (Basilosaurus) Vertebra - Morocco
This is a 5.3" wide vertebra of the primitive whale, Basilosaurus. It was collected from Morocco and has been prepped free from the surrounding rock that it was found in. Based on what remains of the processes, this is likely a cervical vertebra.
Basilosaurids could reach gigantic sizes, with some species reaching nearly 60 feet in length. They likely fed on fish, sharks, and sea birds with teeth optimized for catching and chewing prey. The front teeth in the jaw were pointed for catching and holding fish while they had very uniquely shaped, double rooted molars for chewing.
An artists rendering of a Basilosaur. Drawing by Pavel Riha.
GNU Free Documentation License
The Middle to Late Eocene formations of Southwestern Morocco contain a diverse fauna of Basilosaurs, including more than half a dozen described species of the genera Dorudon, Stromerius, Saghacetus, Eocetus, Platyosphys and Basilosaurus. Fossil teeth are nearly identical between Basilosaur species, so other than using tooth size and exact horizon the teeth were collected from (which is not known) to narrow down the species, there is no way of assigning an isolated tooth to a specific species. These teeth have often been labeled as the genus Zygorhiza in the past, but based on new research into the archaeocete faunas of Morocco, it does not appear this genus is found there.
Several papers on the Basilosaurs of southwestern Morocco can be found below.
New marine mammal faunas (Cetacea and Sirenia) and sea level change in the Samlat Formation, Upper Eocene, near Ad-Dakhla in southwestern Morocco
New fauna of archaeocete whales (Mammalia, Cetacea) from theBartonian middle Eocene of southern Morocco
Stomach contents of the archaeocete Basilosaurus isis: Apex predator in oceans of the late Eocene
A cast of a Basilosaurus jaw showing the varying tooth shapes in the jaw.
An artists rendering of a Basilosaur. Drawing by Pavel Riha.
GNU Free Documentation License
The Middle to Late Eocene formations of Southwestern Morocco contain a diverse fauna of Basilosaurs, including more than half a dozen described species of the genera Dorudon, Stromerius, Saghacetus, Eocetus, Platyosphys and Basilosaurus. Fossil teeth are nearly identical between Basilosaur species, so other than using tooth size and exact horizon the teeth were collected from (which is not known) to narrow down the species, there is no way of assigning an isolated tooth to a specific species. These teeth have often been labeled as the genus Zygorhiza in the past, but based on new research into the archaeocete faunas of Morocco, it does not appear this genus is found there.
Several papers on the Basilosaurs of southwestern Morocco can be found below.
New marine mammal faunas (Cetacea and Sirenia) and sea level change in the Samlat Formation, Upper Eocene, near Ad-Dakhla in southwestern Morocco
New fauna of archaeocete whales (Mammalia, Cetacea) from theBartonian middle Eocene of southern Morocco
Stomach contents of the archaeocete Basilosaurus isis: Apex predator in oceans of the late Eocene
A cast of a Basilosaurus jaw showing the varying tooth shapes in the jaw.
SPECIES
Basilosaurus sp.
LOCATION
Western Sahara, Morocco
SIZE
5.3" wide
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#164132
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