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'''''Mosasaurus''''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA pronunciation]]: {{IPA|['mozəˌsɔrʊs]}}) "lizard of the Meuse" was a genus of [[mosasaur]], a carnivorous, aquatic [[lizard]], somewhat resembling a flippered [[crocodile]], with elongated heavy jaws. The genus lived in the [[Maastrichtian]] age of the [[Cretaceous]] period ([[Mesozoic]] era), around 70-65 millions years ago. The name means "Meuse lizard", because it was found in the [[Meuse River]] (Latin ''Mosa'' + Greek ''sauros'' lizard). As with all mosasaurs, their legs and feet are modified into paddle-like flippers, with the forelimbs larger than the hindlimbs. The first mosasaur ever discovered, ''Mosasaurus hoffmanni'', was excavated in a mine near [[Maastricht]], [[the Netherlands]] in the 1770s. The beast was later named for the nearby river Meuse. Like its relatives ''[[Tylosaurus]]'' and ''[[Hainosaurus]], '' '''''Mosasaurus''''' reached lengths of about 15 metres. |
'''''Mosasaurus''''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA pronunciation]]: {{IPA|['mozəˌsɔrʊs]}}) "lizard of the Meuse" was a genus of [[mosasaur]], a carnivorous, aquatic [[lizard]], somewhat resembling a flippered [[crocodile]], with elongated heavy jaws. The genus lived in the [[Maastrichtian]] age of the [[Cretaceous]] period ([[Mesozoic]] era), around 70-65 millions years ago. The name means "Meuse lizard", because it was found in the [[Meuse River]] (Latin ''Mosa'' + Greek ''sauros'' lizard). As with all mosasaurs, their legs and feet are modified into paddle-like flippers, with the forelimbs larger than the hindlimbs. The first mosasaur ever discovered, ''Mosasaurus hoffmanni'', was excavated in a mine near [[Maastricht]], [[the Netherlands]] in the 1770s. The beast was later named for the nearby river Meuse. Like its relatives ''[[Tylosaurus]]'' and ''[[Hainosaurus]], '' '''''Mosasaurus''''' reached lengths of about 15 metres. |
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However, mosasaurus was much more robust than its relatives, at some double the weight of a mosasaur of the same length; a 10m mosasaurus was as heavy as a 15m tylosaurus |
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Mosasaurs had no competitors for the place as top predators in the sea. |
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Predators bigger than mosasaurs: |
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[[Megalodon]], 60ft, 60tonnes |
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[[Giant pliosaurs]], 80ft, 100tonnes |
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[[ Basilosaurus]], 65ft, 60tonnes |
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[[Sperm whales]], 65ft, 80tonnes |
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[[Shionosaurus]], 50ft, 35tonnes |
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New giant[[ shastasaur]], 75ft, 60tonnes |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 14:26, 7 November 2006
Mosasaurus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
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Mosasaurus hoffmanni and Globidens aegypticus | |
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Genus: | Mosasaurus
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Mosasaurus (IPA pronunciation: ['mozəˌsɔrʊs]) "lizard of the Meuse" was a genus of mosasaur, a carnivorous, aquatic lizard, somewhat resembling a flippered crocodile, with elongated heavy jaws. The genus lived in the Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous period (Mesozoic era), around 70-65 millions years ago. The name means "Meuse lizard", because it was found in the Meuse River (Latin Mosa + Greek sauros lizard). As with all mosasaurs, their legs and feet are modified into paddle-like flippers, with the forelimbs larger than the hindlimbs. The first mosasaur ever discovered, Mosasaurus hoffmanni, was excavated in a mine near Maastricht, the Netherlands in the 1770s. The beast was later named for the nearby river Meuse. Like its relatives Tylosaurus and Hainosaurus, Mosasaurus reached lengths of about 15 metres. However, mosasaurus was much more robust than its relatives, at some double the weight of a mosasaur of the same length; a 10m mosasaurus was as heavy as a 15m tylosaurus Mosasaurs had no competitors for the place as top predators in the sea.
Predators bigger than mosasaurs: Megalodon, 60ft, 60tonnes Giant pliosaurs, 80ft, 100tonnes Basilosaurus, 65ft, 60tonnes Sperm whales, 65ft, 80tonnes Shionosaurus, 50ft, 35tonnes New giantshastasaur, 75ft, 60tonnes