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Ancient Sea Monster

All articles tagged with #ancient sea monster

paleontology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unearthing Japan's Unprecedented 72 Million-Year-Old 'Blue Dragon'"

Scientists in Japan have discovered the near-complete remains of a 72 million-year-old sea monster, named "blue dragon," that belonged to a new species of mosasaur. The fossils, the most complete ever found in Japan and the northwest Pacific, reveal an unusual body plan with large rear flippers and a dorsal fin, setting it apart from other mosasaurs. The creature, about the size of a great white shark, challenges our understanding of how mosasaurs swam and hunted, and highlights the diversity of these apex marine predators that lived during the Cretaceous period.

via Livescience.com|

#ancient-sea-monster #blue-dragon #fossils

paleontology2 years ago•3 min saved

Unprecedented Discovery: Japan Unearths Extraordinary 72 Million-Year-Old 'Blue Dragon'

Scientists in Japan have discovered the near-complete remains of a 72 million-year-old sea monster, named "blue dragon," which belonged to a new species of mosasaur. The fossils, the most complete ever found in Japan and the northwest Pacific, reveal an unusual body plan with large rear flippers and a dorsal fin, unlike any other mosasaur. The researchers speculate that the creature used its unique flippers for diving and ascending quickly in the water, making it an adept hunter. Mosasaurs were apex marine predators during the Cretaceous period and went extinct around 66 million years ago.

via Yahoo Life|

#ancient-sea-monster #japan #mosasaur

paleontology2 years ago•4 min saved

Unearthing the Enormous Skull of an Ancient Sea Monster on England's Jurassic Coast

Paleontologists have uncovered a 150 million-year-old pliosaur skull, measuring 6 feet in length, along England's Jurassic Coast. The largely intact skull, which is larger than the average human's height, is a unique find and could provide new insights into the creature's anatomy. The fossil was discovered by chance on the beach below a cliff and was extracted with the help of ropes and a makeshift stretcher. The rest of the reptile's body is believed to be in the cliff, but further excavation will require significant funding. The skull will be displayed at the Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life and featured in a BBC documentary.

via HuffPost|

#ancient-sea-monster #fossil-discovery #jurassic-coast

science2 years ago•1 min saved

"Rare Discovery: Ancient Sea Monster Skull Unearthed in UK"

The intact skull of a pliosaur, an ancient ocean predator and the largest carnivorous reptile to have ever lived, has been discovered along the Jurassic Coast in southern England. The more than six-foot-long fossil, found by artist and fossil hunter Philip Jacobs, is considered a "discovery of a lifetime" by experts. Pliosaurs, which reigned at the top of the food chain during the Jurassic Period, were solitary hunters that preyed on other marine reptiles. The complete skull offers new insights into the anatomy and features of these ancient sea monsters.

via The New York Times|

#ancient-sea-monster #fossil #jurassic-coast