Fossils Of A Massive Sea Lizard That Ruled The Oceans 66 Million Years Ago Discovered

Scientists in Morocco have discovered a new species of giant sea lizard mosasaur that hunted marine reptiles with its massive jaws nearly 66 million years ago, reveals a report by The Independent.

Twitter: @NickLongrich

Named Thalassotitan atrox, the creature could have grown as large as 9 metres in length and are related to modern iguanas and monitor lizards. 

According to the University of Bath in the UK, unlike previously discovered mosasaurs that would consume small prey such as squid, fish, clams etc, Thalassotitan atrox actually evolved to prey on all other marine reptiles that lived in that era. Researchers claim that it was in fact an apex predator of its time, claiming the top spot on the food chain. 

The chain started with plankton at the bottom that consumed nutrient-rich water from the depths of the ocean. Smaller fishes fed on these planktons, whereas larger fishes would prey on these smaller fishes. The larger fishes fed mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, which would eventually be food for the gargantuan Thalassotitan atrox. 

The giant sea lizard had an enormous skull that was 1.4 metres long and had a short, but wide muzzle with large cone-shaped teeth which allowed it to grab and rip apart huge prey with ease.

According to the researchers, most of the teeth of the giant lizard were broken and rather worn out, suggesting its attacking nature, resulting in deformation over time. 

Twitter: @NickLongrich

They also came across the remains of the victims of the Thalassotitan, which included a large predatory fish. A sea turtle, a half-metre long head of a plesiosaur and jaws and skulls of at least three different mosasaur species. 

Researchers are of the belief that these prey were ingested by the creature, who later spit out the bones. 

Study co-author Nick Longrich from the University of Bath explained, “We can’t say for certain which species of animal ate all these other mosasaurs. But we have the bones of marine reptiles killed and eaten by a large predator.”

He added, “Thalassotitan was an amazing, terrifying animal. Imagine a Komodo Dragon crossed with a great white shark crossed with a T rex crossed with a killer whale.”

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