Ancient sea predator fossil discovered in Texas: Insight into prehistoric marine life

Scientists have uncovered a remarkable fossil of a sea predator that swam in the oceans near present-day Texas around 85 million years ago. The fossil, belonging to Globidens alabamensis, a species from the mosasaur family, includes complete jawbones, providing a rare glimpse into the size and behavior of this ancient marine animal.

Discovery of a complete fossil

The fossil, which includes the full set of chompers, is a significant find for paleontologists. The rarity of such complete remains offers researchers the opportunity to study how prehistoric predators attacked and consumed their prey. The species, Globidens, was first described in 1912, but the recent find provides new insights.

The discovery was detailed in a paper published in The Journal of Paleontological Sciences. Fossil hunter Courtney Travanini unearthed the jawbones in the Ozan Formation of northeastern Texas, later turning the fossil over to scientists for analysis.

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Unique jaw structure

The fossil features six teeth on the left side of the jaw and 12 on the right. These teeth, described as “tall and cylindrical,” measure up to 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) long, while the jawbones themselves are described as “robust and massive.”

Unlike typical carnivorous sea reptiles, which often have serrated, sharp teeth, Globidens had a different approach to hunting. Previous research suggests that these sea predators did not rely on razor-sharp teeth for tearing into their prey. Instead, they are believed to have swallowed their prey whole, using their large jaws to engulf rather than slice.

The fossils were found in the Western Mississippi Embayment, a region stretching from southern Illinois to northern Louisiana. While this area is now dry land, it was submerged under ocean waters during the Cretaceous period, when mosasaurs roamed the seas.

The discovery of a complete Globidens jawbone is rare in this region. While the fossil’s shape is similar to other species in the mosasaur family, it lacks some distinctive features, making it difficult for scientists to classify the exact subspecies. However, based on the number and shape of the teeth, researchers determined it likely belonged to Globidens alabamensis.

Pop culture connection and mosasaur size

The sea monsters from the mosasaur family gained pop culture recognition after being featured in Jurassic World, where a mosasaur was depicted as large enough to swallow a shark in one bite. However, in reality, Globidens measured around 20 feet (six meters) in length, a far cry from the exaggerated sizes shown in films.

In contrast, the largest known dinosaur-era aquatic animal, Shastasaurus, grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) in length, towering over its smaller mosasaur relatives.