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Paleontologists have identified a new species of giant marine reptile, Tylosaurus rex, after re-examining previously misidentified fossils. Dubbed the “T. rex of the sea,” it was one of the most formidable marine predators of the Late Cretaceous Period, living around 80 million years ago.

About Tylosaurus rex

Tylosaurus rex is a species of mosasaur, a group of giant carnivorous marine reptiles that dominated the oceans during the age of dinosaurs. Although it shares the title "rex" with Tyrannosaurus rex, it lived millions of years before the land-based dinosaur evolved.

Habitat and Distribution

• Inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland sea that divided North America during the Cretaceous Period.
• Fossils have mainly been found in Texas and Kansas.

Key Features

• Largest known specimen ("Bunker") measured 13.2 metres in length.
• Skull length reached 1.7 metres.
• Possessed fine serrated teeth adapted for slicing flesh.
• Had powerful jaws, strong neck muscles, paddle-like flippers, and a muscular tail.
• Closest living relatives are monitor lizards, including the Komodo dragon.

Evolutionary Significance

Mosasaurs evolved from small terrestrial lizards that adapted to marine life, becoming dominant ocean predators during the final 30 million years of the dinosaur age.

Importance of the Discovery

The identification of Tylosaurus rex demonstrates how re-examination of old fossil collections using modern techniques can reveal previously unknown species. As an apex predator, it provides valuable insights into the food webs, biodiversity, and ecology of prehistoric marine ecosystems.