The terrifying sea lizard that roamed the coasts of Africa 66 million years ago had deadly shark teeth that could cut the fish in half with one bite
- Scientists have discovered the fossilized remains of a new species of mosasaurus
- Mosasuars were giant sea creatures that lived alongside dinosaurs
- This species was found to have shark teeth that gave it a deadly cutting bite
- The discovery suggests mosasaur diversity peaked just before the dinosaur-killing asteroid struck 66 million years ago
A prehistoric reptile that roamed the coasts of Africa 66 million years ago had deadly shark teeth that could cut a fish in half with one bite, a study finds.
Researchers have discovered the fossilized remains of a new species of mosasaur – an ancient sea creature from the era of the dinosaurs.
This particular species was found to have shark teeth that gave it a deadly cutting bite.
The discovery adds to the diversity of marine reptiles in the late Cretaceous Period, and suggests that their diversity peaked just before the dinosaur-killing asteroid struck 66 million years ago, the researchers said.
Researchers have discovered the fossilized remains of a new species of mosasaurus – an ancient sea creature from the era of the dinosaurs
The fossilized remains of the new species, called Xenodens calminechari, were discovered in the Maastricht phosphates of Morocco by researchers at the University of Bath.
Dr. Nick Longrich, senior lecturer at the Milner Center for Evolution at the University of Bath and lead author of the study, said: “66 million years ago, the coasts of Africa were the most dangerous seas in the world.
‘The diversity of predators was unlike anything else on the planet.
The new mosasaurus adds to a fast-growing list of marine reptiles known from the last Cretaceous of Morocco, which at the time lay beneath a tropical sea.
‘An enormous diversity of mosasaurs lived here. Some were gigantic, deep-diving predators like modern sperm whales, others with huge teeth and grew to ten meters long, were apex predators like orcas, still others ate shellfish like modern sea otters – and then there was the odd little Xenodens.
They coexisted with long-necked plesiosaurs, giant sea turtles, and saber-toothed fish.
Although the sea lizard was only the size of a small porpoise, it could have attacked large fish with its incisors, cut in half, and took large bites
“The new mosasaurus adds another dangerous predator to the mix.”
Although the sea lizard was only the size of a small porpoise, it could hit its incisors above its weight, cut the fish in half, and catch large mouthfuls from larger animals.
“They’re just like the knives sold in that old television commercial – they cut through everything,” said Dr. Longrich.
Mosasaurs lived alongside dinosaurs before the asteroid struck and destroyed 90 percent of all species on Earth.
A reconstruction of his skull reveals that his teeth were close together, creating a jagged effect
However, the new study indicates that the ecosystem was not in decline before the asteroid hit, and instead, it is likely that marine reptiles were actually expanding in diversity.
Dr. Nour-Eddine Jalil from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and Université Cadi Ayyad in Marrakech said: ‘A mosasaurus with shark teeth is a new adaptation of mosasaurs so surprising it looked like a fantastic creature from the imagination of an artist.
Xenodens calminechari is further evidence of the extraordinary paleobiodiversity of the phosphate sea.
‘It is as if nature is struggling to find all combinations for an increasingly finer exploitation of food resources.’