Texas <em>T. Rex</em>’ Is an 80-Million-Year-Old Mosasaur the Size of a School Bus
Researchers have identified a new species of giant mosasaur named Tylosaurus rex, which lived around 80 million years ago. This discovery not only adds a significant predator to the fossil record but also updates the understanding of mosasaur evolution. The findings highlight Texas as an important site for studying ancient marine ecosystems.
- ▪Tylosaurus rex was named meaning 'king of the tylosaurs' and measured up to 43 feet long.
- ▪The species exhibited powerful jaw and neck muscles, suggesting it was built to overpower prey.
- ▪Evidence of injuries among specimens indicates aggressive behavior, possibly territorial or cannibalistic interactions.
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Texas now has its own T. rex that ruled the Cretaceous seas with an iron jaw.Researchers have identified a previously unknown species of giant mosasaur, a fearsome marine reptile that once prowled the ancient seas. And in a fitting nod to its sheer dominance, scientists named it Tylosaurus rex — meaning “king of the tylosaurs.”Published in the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, the discovery does more than just add a new gargantuan predator to the fossil record. It is also changing how paleontologists study mosasaur evolution, thanks to an update to a scientific dataset that has remained largely the same for decades.“These are living, breathing animals. They weren’t movie monsters.
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