(Continued)
The Skull:
Measuring roughly six feet in length, MNN 604 is about 76%
snout and all predator. The cranium (the braincase) is preserved
with little or no distortion, so we can actually get an estimate
of its brain mass!
The premaxilla (pm) was absent in the giant skull (MNN 604)
except for a fragment that was found inside the maxillary
(m) cavity during preparation. A total of 132 total teeth
would have packed its jaws with a strong bite force. With
30 teeth on each side of the jaw (m, maxilla), the tenth one
serves as a canine and was possibly used for holding in prey.
Perhaps the most complete, but not the largest known skull
of its species, MNN 604 allows us to get a broad view of crocodilian
evolution during the Cretaceous.
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In order to successfully clean and prepare a fossil,
one needs the right tools. When preparing the skull
of Sarcosuchus what better tools to use than
tools used to clean your teeth?
DENTAL TOOLS!
- Dental tools: Used by dentists and paleontologists
alike, since they are small and tend to cause the
least damage possible to the fossil. ·
- Glue: The most important tool in fossil preparation.
Glue is used to keep the bones together, so they won't
collapse and break into another million pieces.
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- Air Scribes: Air powered tools are used to chisel
away at the hard matrix encasing the fossil.
- Sand bag: Used to support the weird shape of a fossil,
a sand bag provides support so the fossil won't break.
· Brushes: Another important tool, the brush should
be used to keep the area clean.
- Protection (face mask): When using chemicals (such
as acetone) wear a facemask to protect your lungs.
· Water: Sometimes fossils are covered in plain old
mud; use water to wash away excess dirt.
- Magnifying glass: In order to see the fossil up-close
and personal, a magnifying glass provides more control
while cleaning the fossil.
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