Onchosaurus Rostral Spine Fossil From S.of Taouz Ken-kem Basin Morocco
Size-
3.7cm x 2.1cm x 1cm
Weight-
7.7g
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An onchosaurus Rostral spine is the fossilised barb like “tooth” from the snout (rostrum) of onchosaurus a giant extinct genus of sawfish-like ray that lived during the late Cretaceous period.
Unlike modern sawfish which have cartilage based teeth,these prehistoric bottom-dwellers possessed hard,bony Rostral spines. Because bone tissue preserves incredibly well,these isolated spines are the most common fossil remains left behind by these ancient predator.
These sharp,heavily denticulated spines lined the edges of a long,flat snout. The creature used its rostrum as a weapon,slashing through schools of fish and defending itself against apex marine predators.
Research on rare skeletal remains shows that these spines were attached laterally straight onto the skin surface rather than inside structural sockets.
