Meet The "T. Rex Of The Sea"
DOGO News • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have discovered a new giant marine reptile species named Tylosaurus rex, which ruled the oceans about 13 million years before the Tyrannosaurus rex dominated the land.
- Tylosaurus rex could grow up to 43 feet long, weigh between three and four tons, and had sharp, serrated teeth distinct from other members of its family, indicating a different hunting style.
- Fossils of Tylosaurus rex had been misidentified as Tylosaurus proriger for decades until paleontologists Michael Polcyn and Amelia Zietlow noticed key differences in fossils from Texas and New York.
- The researchers identified twelve Tylosaurus rex specimens, including a notable skeleton called "The Black Knight," which shows evidence of healing from injuries, suggesting the animal survived and continued hunting.
- The discovery, published in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, offers new insights into the evolution of ancient marine reptiles and may reshape scientific understanding of their history.