A gigantic skull from an extinct marine reptile was discovered on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Fans will know more about the pliosaur because it will be featured in an upcoming documentary.
Massive Skull From Pliosaur Discovered Off the Coast of England
The skull of a massive marine creature that roamed the waters over 150 million years ago has been found off the coast of England.
The massive fossil, about seven feet long and belongs to a sea reptile called a pliosaur, was discovered on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
The remarkable find came last year when fossil enthusiast Phil Jacobs was strolling along Kimmeridge Bay's stony shores when he came across a gigantic pliosaur's jaw one morning.
In addition to being known for its fossils, the location is home to some of the most significant geological findings made along the Jurassic Coast.
Dr. Steve Etches MBE has spent over 30 years collecting over 2,000 specimens, many of which he found.
Upon being consulted to evaluate the discovery, Mr. Etches surmised that the remaining portion of the skull might still be embedded in the cliff above. He assembled a group of specialists, led by fellow fossil hunter Chris Moore, who manages a small family fossil business in Charmouth, to uncover the remaining specimen.
Even though the ardent fossil hunters have collaborated for decades, they regard this specific fossil as the largest finding they have ever encountered.
To uncover the remaining fossil, he assembled a group of specialists, including Chris Moore, a fellow fossil collector and owner of a small family fossil company in Charmouth.
Even though the ardent fossil hunters have collaborated for decades, they regard this specific fossil as the largest finding they have ever encountered.
The pliosaur will be featured in the brand new BBC documentary by David Attenborough, which will air on New Year's Day.
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What is a Pliosaur - The Underwater T. Rex?
With its ability to hunt and kill with a single bite, it was called the "ultimate killing machine" and the "apex predator in the ocean."
There are about 130 long, extremely sharp teeth in the cranium. Each tooth includes tiny ridges on the back to puncture the flesh of its target and prime itself for an immediate follow-up bite.
Prey included other pliosaurs and creatures resembling dolphins.
The jaws of pliosaurs were more than twice as strong as those of modern saltwater crocodiles.
"The animal would have been so massive that I think it would have been able to prey effectively on anything that was unfortunate enough to be in its space," Andre Rowe, a palaeobiologist from Bristol University, told BBC News.
The creatures weighed between thirty and forty-nine feet and moved swiftly on four strong, flipper-like appendages.
"I have no doubt that this was sort of like an underwater T. Rex," Rowe said.
Per Etches, there's nothing that compares to a pliosaur today.
"It's a big carnivorous reptile and one of the largest that ever lived in the sea. It's even bigger than a T-Rex, these are larger and more ferocious," he exclaimed.
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