Prognathodon fossil map
Where fossils of Prognathodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 66 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 66 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Mosasaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 100.5–61.66 million years ago (Cenomanian to Danian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous, Paleogene |
| Family | Mosasauridae |
| Named by | Dollo 1889 |
| Fossil records | 94 occurrences at 71 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Morocco, Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Syria, New Zealand, Canada … |
| Rock formations | txn:38049, Bearpaw Shale, Torme, Gulpen, Maastricht, Jagüel |
About Prognathodon
Prognathodon is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Mosasaurinae subfamily, alongside genera like Mosasaurus and Clidastes. Prognathodon has been recovered from deposits ranging in age from the Campanian to the Maastrichtian in the Middle East, Europe, New Zealand, Africa and North America.
Prognathodon means "forejaw tooth", which originates from the Latin pro- ("earlier" or "prior"), Greek gnathos ("jaw") and odṓn ("tooth"). Twelve nominal species of Prognathodon are recognised, from North America, northern and western Africa, the Middle East, western Europe and New Zealand. Due to the sometimes clear differences between them and the incomplete nature of many of the specimens, the systematics of the genus and which species should properly be considered Prognathodon is controversial. Some species have been assigned to other genera, such as Dollosaurus and Brachysaurana, but this has also been questioned.
Prognathodon is known for its massively built jaws and teeth. Its distinct feeding adaptations have generated much interest in its ecology ever since its discovery, though direct evidence of its diet, such as gastric residues, is rare.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Prognathodon (revision 1374801390), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
