The freeing from the matrix of the quadrate is reaching completion
.....
Quadrate temporarily removed for study
Yesterday, the quadrate, a piece of bone connecting the lower jaw to the remainder of the skull, was prepared in its entirety, and is now being freed from the matrix on all sides. It turns out to be complete and well preserved. That is good news, since the quadrate is one of the most characteristic skeletal elements of a mosasaur. An identification at species level of this present specimen is becoming more and more likely.
Two skulls, probably of the same species: one from Zichen-Zussen, near Maastricht (the yellowish brown one in front) and one from New Jersey, USA (the black one in the background)
Mosasaurs from Maastricht and from the USA
When mosasaurs were around in the Atlantic Ocean, some 65 million
years ago, the cross over from Maastricht to the American east coast did
not take quite so long - America and Europe were then much closer together.
But still - it would have meant a swim of some 2000 kilometres. That mosasaurs
did not worry too much about this, becomes apparent when one considers
that the fossils found in the US belong to the same species as do those
from the Maastricht area. On the occasion of the travelling exhibit 'Dinosaurs,
ammonites & asteroids' (www.nhmmaastricht.nl/maastrichtian), currently
in the New Jersey State Museum, there is a unique reunion: a mosasaur
skull from the environs of Maastricht (from the collections of the Brussels
museum) has temporarily been placed next to a skull from New Jersey.
No Mosasaur in Disney's 'Dinosaur'
At a preview showing of Disney's new animation film 'Dinosaur' the
mosasaur was sadly missed. There still is a sealife scene in the film's
intro, where you might expect the Limburg sea reptile to make an appearance.
No such luck, the public will have to make do with roaring Carnotaurus
and sharp-toothed Velociraptor.
Jim Hillin, responsible for the mix of all animations into one consistent
whole ('the scene finaling/effects composing supervisor') at Disney's
'Secret Lab', appeared to have more details. In the original scenario,
mosasaurs did in fact swim around, but at a later stage these were removed
since the scene was considered too violent ...