Scientists from the University of Bath, England, have announced the discovery of the fossil of “nightmarish” Sea Lizard which coexisted with iconic dinosaurs over 66 million years ago.
The research team led by Prof. Nick Longrich, said it unearthed the skull and other skeletal remains of the Sea Lizard in a Moroccan mine.
Longrich who spoke to journalists on the discovery on Wednesday, described the species as an orca-sized predator possessing “a demon’s face and teeth like knives, which lived in ancient oceans some 66 million years ago.”
“The creature, the Sea Lizard, scientifically named Khinjaria Acuta, measured a staggering 8 meters in length, boasting dagger-like teeth and a jaw capable of delivering a formidable biting force,” Longrich said.
According to Longrich, the reconstruction image of the Khinjaria Acuta shows the Sea Lizard’s jawline and razor-sharp teeth.
“Its name was derived from the Arabic word for “dagger” and Latin for “sharp.” They belong to the family of giant marine lizards known as mosasaurs. Khinjaria Acuta was among the apex predators that dominated the Atlantic Ocean during the late Cretaceous period.
“These ancient behemoths coexisted with renowned dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops,” Longrich said.
He also remarked on the unprecedented diversity of marine life during the period, highlighting the presence of numerous top predators that roamed the seas.
“The creature went extinct in the same event that led to the extinction of all mosasaurs as well as dinosaurs.
“There seems to have been a huge change in the ecosystem structure in the past 66 million years.
“Whether there’s something about marine reptiles that caused the ecosystem to be different, or the prey, or perhaps the environment, we don’t know,” he added.
He noted that the extinction of the earlier reptiles opened the seas up for whales, seals, and fish including swordfish and tuna to thrive.