Mosasaurus conodon (Cope, 1881)

Remarks

• Collector:    Tony Fabian

• Formation:  Monmouth Group, Navesink Formation

• Location:     Monmouth County, New Jersey

• The lower jaw is hinged in mosasaurs, and is comprised of several bones.  The bone shown is the splenial, which connects the dentary (the part with all of the teeth) to the hinge and the hind jaw (posterior lower jaw).

General Info

Synonyms (general list of reports-not an exhaustive list!)

• 1881 Clidastes conodon Cope

• 1889 ?Mosasaurus lemonnieri Dollo

• 1953 Mosasaurus conodon (Cope); Martin

• 1967 Mosasaurus conodon (Cope); Russell

• 1995 Mosasaurus conodon (Cope); Bell and Martin

Stratigraphic Occurrence

• Maastrichtian Phosphate Beds of Belgium

• Monmouth Group, Navesink Formation of New Jersey

• Taylor Group (formation not given) on Northeast Texas

• Taylor Group, Marlbrook Marl of Arkansas

• Montana Grp, Pierre Shale, Virgin Creek Mbr of South Dakota

• Montana Grp, Pierre Shale, Verendrye Mbr of South Dakota

• Montana Grp, Pierre Shale, DeGrey Mbr of South Dakota

Age

• Mosasaurus conodon (Cope) ranges from about the Didymoceras cheyennense (Meek and Hayden) Zone (or slightly higher) to the end of the Cretaceous Period, Late Campanian to Maastrichtian Age (~72–65 mya).

Geographic Occurrence (not an all-inclusive list)

• Gloucester County, NJ

• Hemptead County, AR

• Lamar County, TX

• Monmouth County, NJ

• Hyde County, SD (other counties as well)

Remarks

       For more information, see:

• Russell, D. A.  1967.  Systematics and Morphology of American Mosasaurs.  Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University Bulletin 23, 138–141.