Kansas Xiphactinus audax skull 8 vertebrae and fins!! late Cretaceous Period

Description

A very nice Xiphactinus skull from the Kansas Smoky Hill Chalk, Niobrara Formation, Western Interior seaway.  This specimen was collected using plaster in the field.
Xiphactinus famously swam in the
Niobrara (Western Interior)
seaway.
This beautifully preserved skull also has eight vertebrae with associated ribs, plus one complete pectoral (front) fin and a partial fin from the other side. Natural articulation which means all the elements are in their found position.
This individual would have been 10' to 12' long if the rest of the specimen hadn't washed away.
This Xiphactinus also has a very nice sclerotic ring (eye socket) and all the fossil bone is beautifully preserved.
Upper jaw: 9 teeth all real
Lower jaw: 10" with 3 real teeth with the largest measuring 1 1/2" long  Note:
2 of the smaller teeth have been sculpted.
Pectoral (front fin) 13" long
8 Vertebrae: 1" wide
Specimen weight: 50 lbs
Frame Size: 37" across, 25" height, 3 1/2" deep
*A few photos have a more "pinkish" background color because those images were taken inside.
Trimmed in oak with a sturdy hanger on the back. As always, a fossil description card is included.
Please ask questions about this excellent specimen from the Western Interior Seaway 80 million years ago.
As always, our
fossils for sale
were found, cleaned and prepared by the seller. If you have questions or would like additional photographs, please ask.
This fossil will be shipped in a sturdy double box.