[ad_1]
It is believed that many parts of the creature lie in the rocks of Dorset.
The skull of a giant pliosaur, an ancient marine creature that dominated the seas about 150 million years ago, was found in the rocks of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. According to BBC, the 2 meter-long fossil is one of the most complete specimens of its type found. The scientific community hopes that the experiment will provide valuable information on the behavior and physiology of the wild animal.
The skull itself is longer than most people, so one can imagine the size of the creature. A top predator in the ocean, the mangrove’s front teeth are long and sharp and can deliver a deadly bite. The ridges on the back of its teeth helped cut through flesh, making it a good angler. As it is Policethe skull of the pliosaur was alive with many sharp teeth with which it tore the flesh of its victims, including ichthyosaurs.
Physiological evidence suggests that pliosaurs, including this new specimen, preyed on other pliosaurs.
“One of the best things I’ve ever worked on. What makes it unique is the finish,” said paleontologist Steve Etches. BBC News.
“The lower jaw and the upper skull are joined together, as they are in life. In the whole world, very few specimens have been found in this state of detail. But if there are, most of the parts are missing, but now, although it’s a bit misleading – all the bones are there,” he added.
The complex and gruesome process of removing the massive fossilized skull will be featured in a David Attenborough BBC documentary in the New Year.
“The animal would have been very large and I think it would have been able to prey on anything that was unfortunate enough to have its chance,” said Dr Andre Rowe from the University of Bristol.
” I have no doubt that this is like an underwater T. Rex,” he added.
It all started when paleontologist friend Steve Etches and fellow enthusiast Phil Jacobs came across the tip of a pliosaur’s nose while walking on the beach near Kimmeridge Bay in the southern England of the Jurassic World History. They took part of the find to safety on a temporary shelf. It took months to clean and analyze the skull.
Mr Etches believes that most of the animal’s remains lie in the cliffs of Dorset.
I risk my life the animal remains. And it has to come out because it is in an environment that is very fast. This is the part of the cliff that recedes in feet per year. And soon the rest of the pliosaur fell and was lost. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.