Basilosaur (Primitive Whale) Molar - Dakhla, Morocco

This is a 1.9" long molar from a Basilosaurid, a type of Archaeocete (primitive whale). These rare teeth come from the Late Eocene aged deposits in the Western Sahara near Dakhla, Morocco and are associated with teeth of the shark Auriculatus, a Megalodon ancestor. My best research indicates the most likely species is the Basilosaur, Zygorhiza kochii, but I'm leaving a question mark on that because it's not definitive.

Nearly all of the Archaeocete teeth found at this location are broken and are heavily restored, composited, repaired. There is some significant restoration work to the central part of the crown, as well as the tips of a couple of the nubs. That is the reason this isn't a $1-2k tooth

Basilosaurids could reach gigantic sizes with some species reaching nearly 60 feet in length. It is believed that they fed exclusively on fish and sharks, and had a mouth full of teeth optimized for catching and chewing this 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.