Across the Mesozoic Era, many aquatic reptiles hunted and skulked, but few seem better suited to the job than the Pliosaur. These aquatic predators boasted large skulls and short necks, an efficient body plan that allowed for quick movements.

Inside their skulls was the real threat: sharp, curved teeth positioned to clamp down on large prey and hold them in place. With two specialized muscle groups in their jaws, Pliosaurs could hold on tight until their prey was defeated. With these attributes, the Pliosaur thrived for 110 million years across the Mesozoic.

This specimen is a piece of Pliosaur fossil bone, measuring 1-1.25". The fossil comes from the Lower Oxford Clay in Cambridgeshire, England, and dates to the Middle Jurassic Period, when Pliosaurs were first beginning to swim through the world's oceans.

All specimens are enclosed in a handsome, glass-topped riker box case measuring 4x3x1". It comes complete with an informational card that serves as statement of authenticity. You can also explore more aquatic reptile fossils in the collection below!

With a short neck and a large skull full of teeth, the Pliosaur had an efficient body plan that allowed it to spread across the world’s oceans, from the Early Jurassic Period to its extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period, a span in the fossil record of over 110,000,000 years. Measuring up to over 30 feet long, Pliosaurs were big enough to swallow prey whole, which may have been a small mercy considering the animal’s deadly teeth and powerful bite force.

Pliosaur fossils have been found all over the world, appearing across North America and in England’s Kimmeridge Clay Formation, where the first such fossil was discovered in the early 19th century. These finds show a great degree of diversity among Pliosaur species, but the animals show little ecological variation, always seeking out similar environments where they could dominate prey.

Inside each Pliosaur skull were dozens of hooked teeth concentrated towards the front, allowing the Pliosaur to latch onto large prey and prevent them from escaping. In this, the animal was aided by its powerful jaw muscles. Pterygoideus musculature allowed Pliosaurs to quickly open and close their mouths against the resistance of water, while the main adductor mass allowed those jaws to remain sealed around prey. 
 
A reinforced cranial skeleton was well-suited to handle the added stress from these powerful bites, allowing the animal to tear into just about anything that came its way. Preserved stomach contents suggest an opportunistic hunter that preyed on cephalopods, fish, and other aquatic reptiles. Its large eyes and nonspecialized ears suggest it was a visual hunter that picked its prey out from a distance before charging in.