Allosaurus Jaws With Teeth — Unique Skull Display

Allosaurus Jaws With Teeth — Unique Skull Display

Allosaurus fragilis

Late Jurassic (approx. 150 million years ago)

Morrison Formation, Moffat County, Colorado, USA

A unique preparation of the jaws of an Allosaurus fragilis, consisting of the associated tooth bearing elements of a single robust adult individual: the right maxilla (15 x 7 inches), the left maxilla and premaxilla (17 x 7 inches), and the left dentary (16½ x 7 inches).

Together the jaws comprise a total of 73 teeth of which 36 are erupted above the gum line. The bone surfaces of the jaws are well preserved with clear nutrient foramina, and the fossilization of the jaws is very good showing no crushing or distortions. The lingual (inner) sides have been surgically prepared to reveal the dental development and positioning, exhibiting the complexity of continuous tooth eruption and replacement (polyphodonty) in the best-known apex predator of the Jurassic world.

The jaws have been placed in a custom clastic mount together with a reconstructed cast of the full skull of an Allosaurus fragilis, with the sections bearing the jaw elements being hinged and movable so to allow for easy removal and viewing of the fossil elements. The custom mount measures 34½ x 29¼ x 14 inches, and weighs 50 lbs.