First Ever Complete Skeletal Cast of 30-Foot Extinct Alligator-See it in Georgia
Good News Network • • science
Key Points:
- The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, now features the world’s first complete and scientifically accurate mounted skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri, a massive prehistoric relative of modern alligators.
- Deinosuchus schwimmeri lived 83 to 76 million years ago in the eastern United States, measured up to 31 feet long, and was known for preying on dinosaurs, making it one of the largest and most dangerous reptiles in history.
- The mounted skeleton, made from casts of fossilized remains, offers a unique educational experience for visitors, especially children, to visualize Georgia’s prehistoric past and the scale of creatures from the Late Cretaceous epoch.
- The species was named after David Schwimmer, a paleontologist from Columbus State University who has studied Deinosuchus for over 40 years and contributed to ensuring the accuracy of the new replica at the museum.
- With numerous Deinosuchus fossil sites near Columbus, Georgia, the museum’s location is significant, providing a local connection to ongoing research and discoveries in paleontology.
