Fearsome dinosaur-era marine reptile was the T. rex of the sea
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have identified Tylosaurus rex as a distinct species of large marine mosasaur that lived about 80 million years ago, predating the land-dwelling Tyrannosaurus rex by roughly 14 million years.
- Tylosaurus rex was a massive marine predator, measuring up to 43 feet long, with strong jaws, serrated teeth, and paddle-like flippers, making it an apex predator of the Cretaceous inland sea that split North America.
- The species was distinguished from other tylosaurs by unique anatomical features, including tooth serrations and musculature, with the largest specimen nicknamed "Bunker" housed at the University of Kansas.
- Tylosaurus rex likely preyed on large marine reptiles and fish, using its powerful bite and teeth to tear flesh, similar in predatory dominance to Tyrannosaurus rex on land.
- The discovery highlights evolutionary links between mosasaurs and modern monitor lizards like the Komodo dragon, emphasizing the impressive scale and ferocity of this ancient marine reptile.