What is Mosasaur?

About Mosasaur

• Mosasaurs (family Mosasauridae) were a group of large predatory marine reptiles that inhabited all of the world’s oceans during the Late Cretaceous epoch, between 90 and 66 million years ago.
• They are related to snakes and monitor lizards and were some of the largest marine organisms of the time and some of the largest predatory reptiles, period.
• These creatures were contemporaries of Tyrannosaurus rex and other Cretaceous dinosaurs that ruled the Earth.
• They lived near the surface of the water since it breathed air, much as whales do.
• They died out, along with dinosaurs and many other animals, during the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period, 66 million years ago.
• Features:
  • Although Mosasaur species varied in length, some grew to be more than 50 feet long.
  • They had a snakelike body with a large skull, a long snout, and sharp teeth.
  • The structure of the skull was very similar to that of the modern monitor lizards, to which mosasaurs are related.
  • They had flipper-like paddles for arms and legs and a tail fin.
  • They propelled themselves by mainly moving the large fin on their tail in a side-to-side motion.
  • They were also covered in smooth scales, which were very dark in color.
  • They were carnivores.

Q1) What is Tyrannosaurus rex?

Tyrannosaurus rex, commonly known as T. rex, was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago.T. rex was one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs, with estimates suggesting it could reach lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) and stand about 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall at the hips.

Source: Japan Unearths 72-Million-Years-Old Blue ‘Dragon’ That Terrorized Ancient Seas