Large Cretaceous Crocodilian Scute (Osteoderm) Kem Kem Beds Morocco
Age: Cenomanian Cretaceous, 98-92.5 million years old. A Crocodilian Osteoderm (Scute) from the Kem Kem Beds in Morocco. Osteoderms are armor-like bones that sit directly under the skin of crocodilians, often visible as rows of ridges and bumps along the back and tail. There is no restoration or repair on this piece.
There are a number of different crocodilian species from the Kem Kem Beds, so it is not possible to know which species this osteoderm belonged to. Crocodilians are a highly diverse and successful group of carnivorous reptiles which first appeared about 250 million years ago, and still exists today. Though Antarctica and Europe lack native extant species, crocodilian fossils have been found on every continent. They are characterized by armored lizard-like bodies, laterally compressed tails, and wide, flat snouts, among other features. Though all of the surviving species of crocodilian are adapted for semi-aquatic lifestyles, many extinct species were actually fully terrestrial.