Fossil - Horn plate of a crocodile (Elosuchus cherifiensis)

Fossil - Horn plate of a crocodile (Elosuchus cherifiensis)

Early Cretaceous, Alba stage, ca. 113.5 - 100.5 million years ago, Taouz, Kem Kem area, Morocco.

A stunningly beautiful fossilized horny plate from the skin of an ancient crocodile, Elosuchus cherifiensis. The skin of this prehistoric crocodile was very thick and horny. The skin of E.cherifiensis's back was covered with square, knobby horny plates. Underneath the horny plates there were probably also many bone plates that had formed as dermal ossifications. Size approx. 76mm x 54mm x 12mm. Weight approx. 80g.

Elosuchus cherifiensis (Fortignathus) is an extinct species of crocodilian that lived in the Early Cretaceous period of present-day Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. Elosuchus had a long, narrow snout, similar to that of the modern gharial. It is believed to have been a fully aquatic animal. Frenchman René Lavocat named Elosuchus cherifiensis as a species of Thoracosauridae, but France de Lapparent de Broin reassigned it to its own family (Elosuchidae) in 2002. Archosauromorpha is a clade of diapsid sauropods, comprising archosaurs (such as crocodilians and dinosaurs, including birds) and all other diapsids that are more closely related to archosaurs than to lepidosauromorphs (such as lizards, snakes, and tuatara). The first archosauromorphs evolved in the late Permian, but the group only became widespread in the Triassic after the Permian mass extinction.

Symbol meaning

Ritual use

Note! Fossils are natural products that are millions of years old, so each one is unique. Therefore, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from fair to good and there are typical wear, fractures and small chips for fossils.