they thought to have been around 10 m in length that's about the size of a double-decker
bus in the late Jurassic Europe was an archipelago of islands much closer to
the Equator than it is today it Seas.
were warm shallow and teeming with life and in these Waters underneath my feet
lur the ultimate Marine Predator the unlike dinosaurs that lived on land
these colossal marine reptiles spent their.
whole lives in the ocean they thought to have been around 10 m in length that's about the size of a
double-decker bus they had long broad flippers short strong necks huge
heads and enormous Jaws but there's still a lot.
we don't know about these great sea monsters which is why this new discovery is so
important Steve believes that the entire pliosaur may still be inside the
cliff.
but it's the skull on which he's concentrating a skull can reveal more
about an animal than any other part of its skeleton finding a complete specimen is
rare but it can tell us a great deal about how the animal
lived it's quite hot and thirsty work Steve and Chris think they will
have about 3 weeks to dig the fossil out before the storms of late summer
coming. this is a learning curve I thought stupidly that it wouldn't be
quite as hard as this we're probably over a meter in there's the the skull there just behind
me it's up to us now to get out without any damage if the skull is successfully
extracted it will be taken to the etes collection Museum in kimmeridge which
was founded by Steve in 2016 and now contains nearly 3,000 fossils from the Jurassic period.
When referring to the "Tyrannosaurus Rex of the seas," the creature that often comes to mind is the Mosasaurus. Mosasaurus was a formidable marine reptile that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70-66 million years ago. Here's why Mosasaurus is considered a fitting comparison to the T. rex of the seas:
1. Size and Appearance: Mosasaurus was a giant reptile, with some species reaching lengths of up to 50 feet (15 meters) or more. It had a streamlined body, powerful jaws, and a tail adapted for swimming. Similar to the T. rex, Mosasaurus had a large head filled with sharp, conical teeth designed for grasping and tearing prey.
2. Predatory Behavior: Mosasaurus was a carnivorous predator that ruled the oceans during its time. It fed on a variety of marine creatures, including fish, squid, turtles, and even smaller marine reptiles. Its large size and powerful bite allowed it to dominate the marine food chain.
3. Ecological Role: Just as the Tyrannosaurus rex was a top terrestrial predator, Mosasaurus occupied a similar apex predator role in the marine ecosystem of the Late Cretaceous. Its presence likely had significant effects on the populations and behaviors of other marine organisms.
4. Importance in Paleontology: Mosasaurus is one of the most well-known and studied groups of marine reptiles from the Mesozoic era. Fossils of Mosasaurus have been found on every continent, providing valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of marine life during the Late Cretaceous period.
Overall, Mosasaurus represents an iconic example of a large, carnivorous marine reptile that dominated the ancient seas, much like how the Tyrannosaurus rex reigned as the "king" of the dinosaurs on land. Both creatures are celebrated in paleontology for their impressive size, predatory adaptations, and ecological significance during their respective geological periods.
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