Description

Dyrosaurus phosphaticus Crocodile skull (251220a)

Species: Dyrosaurus phosphaticus

Age: Late Jurassic Period, million years old

Formation: Maastrichtian Formation (Phosphate mines of the Ouled Abdoun Basin)

Location: Khouribga Province, Morocco

This 28-inch-long Dyrosaurus skull is a collector’s dream. The top section of a crocodile skull is the single most iconic part of any species in that family. This one is fully intact with no restoration and original teeth. The skull is in its original plaster jacket for stability and display purposes and has been hardened.

This is currently one of the only examples of a dyrosaurus skull on the open market outside of auctions. Furthermore, this piece is from an older collection and was purchased decades ago. This is exceptional because most modern “skulls” are composites or febrications, using other bones and plaster to create the appearance of a skull. This is not the case here; this process only began a few years ago, and from the details on the bone and its porous nature, it’s very obviously the real deal.

Dyrosaurs were a very unique crocodile with longer legs, allowing it to run longer distances than modern examples. Due to the slender jaw, it was likely a piscivore, eating only fish or amphibians if the opportunity arose. Similar to a modern-day Ghariel, skulls have been found with large bumps on the tips of their snout, likely representing status or strength among males. The lack of this on our skull suggests it’s likely a female, though this is hard to tell.

This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to add an incredible and imposing specimen to your collection. The age of this item’s discovery and condition make this a highly sought codomidty.