The Earth is far from what we know now millions of years ago. Different species of plants and animals roam the land and the seas. During the time of the dinosaurs, there is one vicious predator that roamed the land and captured the imagination of modern humans: the Tyrannosaurus rex. But, millions of years ago in the Jurassic period, long before the reign of the T. rex on land, there is also a vicious predator equally powerful, but instead of land, it roams the ancient sea—the Pliosaur.
Much of we know about these dinosaurs are based on fossils that are discovered by paleontologists. Eventually, the knowledge that we gain changes as soon as another fossil is discovered. Just like what we are about to know about the infamous Pliosaur whose fossils are recently unearthed in Poland.
NOT QUITE A TERRIBLE LIZARD
The Pliosaur is a species of ancient marine reptiles commonly found in the waters during the Jurassic period. They resemble a crocodile in a form with massive and head and strong neck muscles complete with massive teeth for hunting prey. Its gargantuan size makes it an apex predator in the ancient seas. However, the Pliosaur is not considered a dinosaur because it was categorized along with the early families of the crocodiles, which were more of a swimming reptile than a dinosaur.
The massive teeth and strong jaws are the Pliosaur's strongest assets, and these are what help paleontologists in identifying their fossils. Recently, a couple of paleontologists from the Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences named Daniel Tyborowski and Blazej Blazejowski found the jaws and teeth of a Pliosaur in a cornfield in the village of Krzyzanowice along the northeastern part of the Holy Cross mountains. In their findings, which was published in the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, the Pliosaur fossil was estimated to be around 145 to 163 million years ago.
The fossil was found in a limestone block located at the site, and the limestone held cone-shaped teeth and fragments of an upper and lower jaw. The biggest tooth found measured about 3 inches from the crown to the tip. Another isolated tooth was found within the vicinity, which measures 2 inches, and the Pliosaur fossil that was found was approximately 10 meters long. Along with the jaws and teeth are fossils of ancient crocodiles and turtles.
According to the paleontologists that discovered the fossils, this was the first Pliosaur species found in Poland.
APEX PREDATOR
Pliosaur is known to be a vicious predator in the oceans during the Jurassic period. With its massive head and strong, muscular neck, it is very easy for the Pliosaur to prey on other ancient marine creatures such as the early crocodiles and turtles and even its distant relative, the long-necked Plesiosaurs.
The Pliosaurs are so large that it is estimated to grow into double the size of a modern killer whale. Despite their bulk, they are long and slender with crocodile-like snouts efficient for catching prey.
As of recent times, there are only six Pliosaur species known to man, and the recently unearthed Pliosaur fossil on Poland is not yet identified on which species it belongs to.
