A rare and impressive Tylosaurus skeleton
Kansas
late Cretaceous, approximately 100-66 million years ago
620cm long
| Condition: |
The skull is largely right there are areas of restoration to consolidate it visible in images. The teeth are largely replaced above root height approx. 75% or more of the skull original. Vertebrae mainly right. More restoration as you move towards the tail. The upper spines with restorations as you would expect approx. 50% right. Lower spines with more restoration still a fair amount of original material. Ribs mainly right 75% or more. Rear paddle main bones mostly right a fair percentage of the smaller bones restoration as one would expect. Front paddle main bones largely right small bones a bit more than 50% restoration. Overall a good specimen the replacements/restoration are to be expected and typical of a marine reptile of this age as the environment where fossilisation takes place is more dynamic than on land hence smaller and more delicate bones suffer most.This specimen was prepared several decades ago and with advances in preparation and restoration in that time it could be improved if desired, rare to see a Tylosaur outside a US museum or private collection. |
| Estimate: |
£70,000 - £120,000
|
|
Hammer price:
|
£105,000 |
Bidding ended. Lot has been sold.
The mosasaurs were a group of gigantic marine reptiles that ruled the seas
in the Cretaceous period while the dinosaurs reigned supreme on the land.
Although both groups were were so successful they all became extinct at around
the same time. One of the largest species of mosasaur lived in the ancient sea
that once covered the land we now know as Kansas. It was a huge and ferocious
creature and is scientifically named a Tylosaur. It was immortalized in paint
by the celebrated Czech artist Zdenek Burian in one of the masterpieces he
created depicting prehistoric life.
This particular example is one of only very few specimens that have ever left the USA.
Click here to see curator Errol Fuller discuss this lot
Fossils
Natural History
Read more
