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Marine Lizard

All articles tagged with #marine lizard

paleontology1 year ago

"Moroccan Mine Yields Fossils of Nightmarish Sea Lizard with Demon's Face and Dagger-like Teeth"

Fossils of a new prehistoric marine lizard species, Kinjaria acuta, have been discovered in Morocco, with a skull and body size comparable to that of a contemporary orca. Estimated to have measured about 25 feet long, the creature is believed to have been an apex predator 66 million years ago, coexisting with dinosaurs. Its unusually-shaped skull and "demon's face" with teeth like knives make it a uniquely frightening breed of mosasaur, populating the eastern Atlantic Ocean near Morocco. The discovery suggests an unusually diverse marine fauna in the Late Cretaceous period.

via Yahoo! Voices|
#fossils#kinjaria-acuta#marine-lizard
paleontology1 year ago

"Monstrous Sea Lizard with Dagger-like Teeth Unearthed in Moroccan Mine"

Paleontologists in Morocco have unearthed the fossilized remains of a previously unknown marine lizard, named Khinjaria acuta, from the Cretaceous period. Measuring about 26 feet long with dagger-like teeth, this fearsome predator hunted in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa some 66 million years ago. Belonging to the Mosasauridae family, its discovery adds to the diversity of top marine predators at the end of the Cretaceous, shedding light on the variety of hunting strategies among these ancient creatures.

via Livescience.com|
#cretaceous-period#fossil-discovery#marine-lizard
paleontology2 years ago

Unearthing Japan's Ancient 'Blue Dragon': A Prehistoric Terror of the Seas

Scientists in Japan have discovered a new species of mosasaur, called Megapterygius wakayamaensis, which lived over 72 million years ago. The nearly complete skeleton of this colossal marine lizard, nicknamed the Wakayama 'blue dragon', was found in Wakayama and is unlike any other mosasaur previously discovered. Its unique body morphology, including unusually long paddle-shaped flippers and possible dorsal fin, challenges our understanding of how mosasaurs swam and hunted. The study sheds light on the diversity and adaptations of these ancient ocean predators.

via ScienceAlert|
#ancient#marine-lizard#mosasaur
paleontology2 years ago

"Scientists Uncover Gigantic New Mosasaur Species, Rewriting Evolutionary History"

Scientists have discovered a new species of mosasaur, a large aquatic lizard that lived during the late Cretaceous period. Named Jörmungandr walhallaensis after a sea serpent in Norse mythology, the fossil was found near Walhalla, North Dakota. This transitional species provides insights into the evolution and lineage of mosasaurs, filling a gap between primitive and advanced forms. With a length of approximately 24 feet, Jörmungandr had flippers, a shark-like tail, and distinctive features such as "angry eyebrows." The discovery sheds light on the geologic history of North America and the adaptations of these ancient marine creatures.

via SciTechDaily|
#evolution#fossil-discovery#late-cretaceous