Moroccan Mosasaur discovery : New study questions fossil authenticity
In 2021, a groundbreaking study published in the Cretaceous Research journal unveiled the discovery of a new mosasaur species in Morocco. This marine lizard, described as having «shark teeth», was said to have roamed the seas during the Cretaceous period, approximately 72 to 66 million years ago. The research was a collaborative effort by scientists from the National Museum of Natural History at the Sorbonne, the University of Bath in Britain, and Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
The mosasaur fossils were reportedly found in Morocco's renowned phosphate deposits, a site celebrated among paleontologists for its rich fossil resources. However, the authenticity of these findings has recently come under scrutiny.
A new study, published by the American Association of Anatomy, challenges the earlier claims. It argues that the mosasaur, named «Xenodens calminechari» by Longrich et al. in 2021, was identified based on a holotype, MHNM.KH.331, which consists of a left maxilla with several teeth.
The American study raises concerns about the integrity of the specimen, stating that the holotype was acquired «nonscientifically (without technical supervision) from an area in Morocco known for yielding many manipulated or forged specimens.»
Furthermore, the study alleges, «We argue that the articulated tooth crowns of this taxon were artificially placed in the maxilla, rendering at least two apomorphies of this taxon the product of forgery».
The researchers contend that the supposed «fused tooth 'roots' in MNHM.KH.331» are, in fact, «calcified periodontal ligament and alveolar bone that have ankylosed, resembling the typical mosasaurid condition».
To resolve these discrepancies, the new study recommends conducting a CT scan of MHNM.KH.331 to detect any artificially added dental crowns in the jaws of the Moroccan mosasaur.
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