3 min learnMight 30, 2026 12:08 PM IST
Scientists have recognized a brand new species of gigantic prehistoric marine reptile known as Tylosaurus rex, a fearsome ocean predator that researchers say rivalled the well-known Tyrannosaurus rex in each measurement and dominance through the age of dinosaurs.
The newly categorised species lived round 80 million years in the past through the Cretaceous Interval within the huge Western Inside Seaway, an historic inland ocean that after divided North America into two landmasses.
Researchers recognized Tylosaurus rex as a definite species after conducting a large-scale assessment of beforehand found mosasaur fossils. The research, revealed within the American Museum of Pure Historical past’s scientific bulletin, discovered that the marine reptile possessed a number of distinctive anatomical options that separated it from different identified tylosaur species.
In response to the researchers, Tylosaurus rex had finely serrated enamel designed for slicing flesh, highly effective jaw and neck muscle mass for subduing giant prey, and an enormous streamlined physique constructed for looking in open water.
The predator belonged to a bunch of big marine reptiles often known as mosasaurs, which advanced from land-dwelling lizards earlier than changing into apex predators of the prehistoric oceans.
The biggest identified Tylosaurus rex specimen, nicknamed ‘Bunker’, measures roughly 43 toes (13.2 metres) lengthy, barely bigger than the largest identified Tyrannosaurus rex specimen, ‘Sue’, which measures round 40.5 toes (12.3 metres).
Researchers stated the enormous reptile would have resembled an unlimited marine model of in the present day’s Komodo dragon, although far bigger and extra aggressive.
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Lead researcher Amelia Zietlow from the Historical past Museum on the Fortress in Wisconsin famous that the cranium of the enormous reptile alone was as tall as she is.
Scientists imagine Tylosaurus rex preyed on giant fish, marine reptiles, and nearly any animal it may overpower within the historic sea. Its mixture of immense measurement, sturdy musculature, and slicing enamel seemingly made it one of the vital dominant marine predators of its time.
Most fossils related to the species have been found in Texas, whereas the best-preserved specimen got here from Kansas. Researchers stated the species identify ‘rex’, which means king, was chosen as a tribute to Tyrannosaurus rex due to the animal’s related position as a prime predator.
Though the 2 species, researchers stated, by no means lived on the identical time, each species occupied comparable positions as apex hunters of their respective environments: one ruling the land and the opposite dominating the ocean.