Mosasaurus Size report

Mosasaurus was the largest top predator in the Mesozoic ocean. Although the Mosasaur had a short history, it evolved from the cliff lizards on land, and it multiplied rapidly in the middle and late Cretaceous and then became extinct with the dinosaurs. Biologists generally believe that its extinction is largely due to the niche vacancy caused by the extinction of dragons and ichthyosaurs.

Mosasaurus are a group of carnivorous marine reptiles with huge heads, strong jaws, and sharp teeth, and their appearance resembles a crocodile with flippers. It has a very large body, and the largest individual length can reach 17 meters. Once became the largest carnivorous animal in the ocean during the Mesozoic era.

Mosasaur lived in the Maastrichtian ocean of the Cretaceous Period (about 70 to 65 million years ago) and was distributed worldwide. The first Mosasaurus fossil was found in a chalk formation near the Meuse River in the Netherlands at the end of the 18th century. The following article explains more details about Mosasaurus size and other facts.

Mosasaurus Basics

In 1764, the mosasaur fossils were first described after they were found in a limestone quarry on the Meuse River in Holland. The ancient, enormous creature was named because the initial remains were discovered close to the Meuse River. Mosasaur fossils are mainly produced in North America and Europe. There are also a few records in Asia.

As the overlord of the ocean world 70 million years ago, Mossaurus can be said to have no rivals for at least 100,000 years. These carnivores were the apex predators in their ecosystem, attacking other marine reptiles like giant turtles, marine crocodiles, plesiosaurs, and even preying on several large fish species, including sharks, as well as ammonites and sea birds. Additionally, the larger mosasaurs would also feast upon the smaller ones. For example, in 2013, American scientists detected three other mosasaur bones in the stomach of the Mosasaur fossil found in Angola.

Mosasaurus Size and Appearance Description

Biologists have inferred the approximate physical shape of mosasaur through the numerous fossils discovered over the centuries, but so far, people don't know much about this ancient creature. The species' body size belonging to this genus could be anything between 3 and over 50 feet. Most of the mosasaurs were around 10 feet in length. Mosasaurs had a snakelike body with a large skull and a long snout. Their limbs were modified into paddles having shorter limb bones and more numerous finger and toe bones than those of their ancestors. The backbone consisted of more than 100 vertebrae.

• Based on a specimen of Mosasaurus hoffmanni, the longest mosasaurs are estimated to have been 17 meters (about 56 feet) in length.
• The stomach contents of mosasaurs reveal ammonites, bony fish, sea turtles, plesiosaurs, and even sea birds. It appears they could eat whatever they wanted.
• The largest Mosasaurus hoffmanni weighed as much as 16 tons and became the largest top predator at that time, swimming at a maximum speed of 48 kilometers per hour.
• A 2015 study found that Mosasaurs gave live birth in the open ocean.

Other Interesting Facts

The early Native Americans drew images of these giant lizards. They believed these fossils were the remains of mythological beings named Wakinyan (thunder beings) and Unktehila (water monsters) and possessed supernatural powers.