Exhibition at the Rabat zoo of the fossil skull of the prehistoric crocodile returned to Morocco

The Zoological Garden of Rabat, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, is exhibiting until May 31 the fossil skull of a 56 million year old crocodile, repatriated last February from the States United of America.

It is a skull of the species Crocodilus phosphaticus, probably a Dyrosaurus, dating from the Lower Eocene, from the phosphate deposit in the Ouled Abdoun basin in Khouribga, said the zoological garden of Rabat in a press release.

This species is characterized by the thinness of its jaws and by teeth suggesting that it had a piscivorous diet, it is pointed out.

Other fossils of marine fauna, originating from sites located in the south of the Kingdom and in the Anti-Atlas are also on display, adds the same source, noting that these fossils were returned by France to Morocco in January 2021.

The objective of this exhibition is to retrace the history of animal occupation on Moroccan territory while highlighting the diversity of the country’s paleontological heritage and the need for its preservation for future generations.

The exhibition, which runs until May 31, 2022, is installed at the level of the interpretation center located in the reception village of the Zoological Garden of Rabat and will be accessible to visitors during the opening hours of the zoo, specifies -your.