9.4 cm large molar tooth of Basilosaurus

9.4 cm large molar tooth of Basilosaurus

The 9.4 cm long tooth of Basilosaurus comes from the posterior region of the dentition. The tooth is in a good state of preservation and most of the root is still present. Basilosaurus used its harpoon-like front teeth to catch its prey and its rear teeth to split the bones and crush the prey, and the tooth has been repaired, as is the case with most finds from Morocco. Basilosaurus ("king lizard") is an extinct species of whale that could grow up to 18 metres long. Its body was snake-like and it was the largest marine predator of its time. The exact determination of the species is difficult. It could be Basilosaurus isis, Basilosaurus cetoides or a later relative Pappocetus lugardi.