Xiphactinus audax Partial Skull and Jaws
This is a partial Xiphactinus audax skull. Included are two partial lower dentary (jaws), one premaxilla (missing teeth), one upper maxilla (missing teeth) and one piece from the other maxilla, scierotic bones (eye socket), one preopercle (gill cover), the cranium, and four vertebra. No restoration. The larger lower jaw measures 8 1/2" long and the longest tooth on this jaw is 1 1/8". The upper jaw (maxilla) with no teeth is also 8 1/2" long. The teeth on the smaller partial jaw are just over 1 1/4" and the front tooth is beautifully preserved. The cranium is a heavy piece of bone weighing nearly 2.5 lbs and measuring ~11 1/4" x 6" wide and ~2" thick at the thickest point. This fossil is from the Cretaceous age Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas. Email us with questions.