This Cretaceous 'Sea Monster' Attacked Prey Faster than Great White Sharks

Key Points:

• New research reveals mosasaurs, ancient marine reptiles, were more efficient swimmers than previously thought, capable of lunging at speeds up to 15 miles per hour, comparable to modern predatory sharks.
• The study distinguishes two mosasaur lineages: long-tailed Russellosaurines, like Tylosaurus and Platecarpus, which were ambush predators with powerful bursts of speed, and shorter-tailed mosasaurines, like Mosasaurus and Plotosaurus, adapted for sustained cruising in open oceans.
• Long-tailed mosasaurs likely dominated shallow seas using sudden lunges to catch prey, while shorter-tailed species pursued prey over longer distances, suggesting different ecological niches and hunting strategies.
• The findings challenge earlier assumptions about mosasaur swimming efficiency and provide new insights into their role as top marine predators during the Late Cretaceous period.
• Researchers plan to extend this biomechanical modeling approach to other mosasaur species and modern large marine animals, enhancing understanding of predator dynamics in past and present ecosystems.