A colossal skull of a predatory sea monster, which roamed the ancient oceans millions of years ago, has been unearthed from a cliff in the United Kingdom, representing one of the most comprehensive specimens of its kind ever found, according to scientists.
Measuring an impressive six feet and five inches in length, the skull belongs to a pliosaur, the largest carnivorous reptile known to have existed, terrorizing its prey approximately 150 million years ago.
The term “pliosaur” translates to “more lizard.”
Scientists describe pliosaurs as formidable predators, equipped with 130 long and razor-sharp teeth, Fox News reported.
These deadly creatures reached lengths of up to 40 feet and possessed a bite force twice as potent as that of a saltwater crocodile, which currently holds the record for the world’s most powerful jaws.
“The animal would have been so massive that I think it would have been able to prey effectively on anything that was unfortunate enough to be in its space,” Dr Andre Rowe from Bristol University told the BBC.
“I have no doubt that this was sort of like an underwater T. rex.”
Rowe explained that the creature boasted four robust flipper-like limbs, enabling it to navigate through the water at high speeds, establishing itself as the apex predator in the ocean.
Unearthed on the southwest coast of England, recognized as the Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile expanse along the southern English counties of Dorset and Devon, the skull offers a glimpse into Earth’s history.
This coastline is a unique site, the only place globally where rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods converge, encapsulating 185 million years of our planet’s past, as highlighted by the Jurassic Park Trust.
The discovery of the skull took place in 2022, concealed within a cliff, thanks to the keen eye of Philip Jacobs, an artist and fossil hunter, as reported by Fox News.
While strolling along the coast, Jacobs stumbled upon the pliosaur’s snout, initiating the revelation of this remarkable specimen.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 