Historic Mosasaur Skeleton from Kansas
Platycarpus
Cretaceous
Niobrara Formation, Western Kansas
Apex predators of the intercontinental seaway that once separated the western third of North America from the rest of the continent, mosasaurs have been called the T. rex's of the Cretaceous seas. Terrifyingly diabolical in appearance, mosasaurs may have possessed forked tongues like their terrestrial varanid cousins, which include the Komodo Dragon. With its snake-like movement, keen eyesight and sharp underwater hearing, the mosasaur was a formidable predator. Its jaw structure evidences the exceptional flexibility required for its snake-like form of predation. The double-hinged jaws allowed this genus, like snakes, to feed on animals that were much larger than it could have consumed with a fixed jaw.
The present specimen is a large mosasaur skeleton collected and prepared by Charles Sternberg. This specimen has been in the collection of an American museum since the 1920's. The preparation style and presentation is typical of Charles Sternberg's work. The specimen shows evidence of original restoration requiring re-working.
Measures 17 feet
Saleroom notices
- Please note this lot has been withdrawn by the museum.
