In the early Mesozoic era, dinosaurs walked the Earth and heavy ferns covered the land in a hot climate, but one familiar danger lurked at the water’s edge: the ancient Phytosaur. This monstrous reptile was an early aquatic predator that struck with terrifying speed and power at anything unfortunate enough to cross its feeding grounds. While it resembled a modern crocodile, the phytosaur is far older and perhaps more frightening than the aquatic reptiles we know today.

This specimen is an individual phytosaur tooth measuring 1.17" in length. This particular specimen was uncovered from the Redonda formation in New Mexico. It is roughly 210,000,000 years old. Redondasaurus is the primary genus found in the area. These creatures were some of the most evolutionarily advanced members of the phytosaur family.