Researchers Question Authenticity of Mosasaur Fossil in Morocco Mine

Concerns have been raised over the authenticity of a fossil used to explain a mosasaur species that reportedly existed 72 to 66 million years in the past. The fossil, found in a phosphate mine in Morocco, fashioned the premise for the classification of Xenodens calminechari, a marine predator with distinctive saw-like enamel. The 2021 examine that launched this species is now being questioned by researchers, citing inconsistencies within the fossil’s construction and provenance.

Questions Raised About Fossil Authenticity

According to the examine revealed in The Anatomical Record, anomalies within the jawbone and enamel have forged doubt on whether or not the fossil is real. Two enamel had been noticed sharing a single tooth socket, a function that contradicts the biology of mosasaurs, which usually have one tooth per socket. Dr. Michael Caldwell, a professor of organic sciences on the University of Alberta, famous that mosasaurs constantly changed their enamel, leaving particular person sockets fashioned by the encompassing bone. He defined this discrepancy to Live Science, emphasising that the overlap of fabric across the enamel additionally suggests potential tampering.

Fossil Provenance Under Scrutiny

The fossil was unearthed in a area identified for fossils with cast parts, based on the examine. Researchers have advocated for computed tomography (CT) scans to confirm its authenticity. However, entry to the fossil, held by Nick Longrich, a paleontologist on the University of Bath and lead writer of the unique examine, has confirmed difficult. Henry Sharpe, the lead writer of the most recent paper, said to Live Science that withholding details about a holotype specimen is unethical, as such specimens have to be accessible for scientific scrutiny.

Calls for additional investigation are rising, with researchers emphasizing the significance of verifying the fossil’s authenticity to protect the integrity of scientific information.