Fossil Primitive Whale (Pappocetus) Teeth in Rock - Morocco

This is a gorgeous plate of teeth from Pappocetus lugardi, a type of protocetid cetacean (early whale ancestor). They are still positioned within the rock they were found in and are naturally associated with a piece of bone. The teeth include a beastly incisor and a molar. These rare teeth come from the Middle Eocene-age Aridal Formation, located in the Western Sahara near Gueran, Morocco.

The teeth are repair free, only requiring some glue stabilization at the basal end of each root. They're nicely laid out on an 9.6 x 7.7" piece of sandstone. The incisor measures 4.4" long and the molar is 3.6".

Comes with an acrylic-metal display stand.

About Pappocetus

Pappocetus is a genus of extinct protocetid cetacean. Protocetids are considered to be one of the earliest examples of whale development during the time they were transitioning from land to sea. Fossil records indicate that they are Middle Eocene in age, existing after Pakicetus (earliest known whale) and prior to Zygorhiza (basilosaurid). These protocetids had become much more whale-like in appearance, featuring a more streamlined body with paddle-like forelegs, and hind-limbs that were greatly reduced in size. Their robust teeth and root structures suggest that they were aquatic carnivores, relying on smell and vision as their most important senses for hunting prey. It's unlikely that by this point they had developed echolocation systems used by modern whales.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Pappocetus lugardi
LOCATION
Gueran, Boujdour, Western Sahara, Morocco
FORMATION
Aridal Formation
SIZE
Largest Tooth: 4.4", Entire Specimen: 9.6 x 7.7"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#238078
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.