Fossil of a “T-Rex of the Seas” found in England

About 150 million years ago, pliosaurs spread fear and terror across the world’s oceans. The discovery of the 2-meter-long fossil of a skull in Dorset, England, is impressive not only for its size, but also for its well-preserved condition.

Local paleontologist Steve Etches even dares to claim to the BBC that a comparable specimen does not exist anywhere else. “The lower and upper skulls are connected, just like a living pliosaur. There are hardly any examples in the world that are so detailed. And if so, many parts are missing, while in this specimen – even though they have been slightly displaced – all the bones are there.”

Overall, the pliosaur was about 10 to 12 meters long and, like all predators, was designed for hunting. It moved quickly in the water using four fin-like limbs and its jaws were equipped with 130 teeth. On the inside they have grooves that make it even easier for the hunter to release the teeth to bite a second time as quickly as possible.

Expert Andre Rowe from the University of Bristol calls the sea giant the Tyronnosaurus Rex of the underwater world, saying: “This animal must have been so big that it could have captured anything in its habitat.” As examination of the fossil revealed, this specimen also fed on passing pliosaurs.

This fossil was an accidental find. Phil Jacobs, a friend of Steve Etches and also a fossil enthusiast, saw the Pliosaurus snout sticking out of the gravel. He then called Etches to help him transport the heavy fragment. Thanks to a drone, it was possible to determine where the rest of the animal was buried: in the middle of a steep rock face, at a height that could only be reached by rappelling.

It was worth it, according to the first studies. For example, the jaw can be used to estimate the force with which the pliosaur could bite. At the tip of the snout this amounts to approximately 33,000 Newtons. By comparison, saltwater crocodiles bite with 16,000 Newtons.

The researchers also found a hole in the pliosaur’s head that could indicate a third eye, as is known from some fish, frogs and lizards living today. It could have helped the predator locate its prey.

Also interesting are some vertebrae protruding from the back of the skull, which could be an indication that there are other parts of the animal in the rock. Steve Etches is convinced of this and therefore wants to investigate further. “I’ll bet my life the rest of the animal is there.” (anb)