Scientific name: Unidentified Basilosaurid - (primitive whale ancestor) - Potencial cf Pappocetus lugardi species- Molar Tooth. Location: Dakhla, Western Sahara, South Morocco Geological Formation: Samlat - Aridal Formation Age: Late Eocene (~40 Million Years) Size: 12cm REF.: #J525 DESCRIPTION: Huge molar tooth from Pappocetus lugardi, a type of protocetid cetacean (early whale ancestor). These outstanding teeth come from the Middle Eocene-age Aridal and Samlat Formations, located in the Western Sahara near Gueran, Morocco. They're commonly found associated with teeth of the shark Otodus sokolovi (Carcharocles auriculatus), a megalodon ancestor. Observations about Restorations/Repairs/Comments: The crown of the tooth is almost perfect, except for one of the cusps that appears to have been restored using the filling method. The root apex is natural; however, most of the root has been restored and reconstructed with restorative material and putty to reshape it to its original shape. Despite these restorations, this remains a truly magnificent specimen. Pappocetus lugardi is an extinct species of protocetid whale that lived during the Eocene epoch (approximately 40–44 million years ago) in Africa. As a transitional form between land and sea, this amphibious, 20–25 foot long carnivore is considered an ancestor of Basilosaurus and represents a crucial stage in whale evolution. Key Facts About Pappocetus lugardi: Discovery: First described by C.W. Andrews in 1920 based on fossils from the Ameki Formation in Nigeria. Additional specimens have been found in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Evolutionary Position: Pappocetus belongs to the family Protocetidae, which are early, amphibious whales that could likely move on land using their large limbs, while also being capable swimmers. Physical Characteristics: Size: Estimated to be around 20-25 feet in length. Diet/Habits: A large, amphibious, aquatic carnivore with robust teeth, likely relying on vision and smell for hunting. Appearance: More whale-like than its predecessors, with a streamlined body, yet retaining functional, though reduced, hind limbs. Fossil Record: Known from jaw fragments, teeth, and skull material. Relation to Modern Whales: While it was a transitional form, it is unlikely to have possessed the modern echolocation abilities found in later cetaceans. All of our fossils come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Every week, the issued Certificates of Authenticity are updated in our database verification system on our website. If you find that your certificate has not yet been updated, please contact us and we will update it immediately. Display box NOT included. IMPORTANT SHIPPING INFORMATION: Our company is based in the USA, but our headquarters and products are located in Europe. Therefore, ALL PRODUCTS WILL BE SHIPPED FROM EUROPE. Consequently, any European customer will receive their shipment without any import charges, as it will be an intra-community shipment. For customers in the USA: Shipments will be made via UPS from Europe, and in this case, we will be responsible for any import charges. These will be paid online by us before the package arrives. Therefore, US customers will not pay any import fees. For the rest of the world: We are not responsible for any import charges applicable to the destination country.