Paleontologists Discover an Ancient Marine Reptile They've Dubbed the T. Rex of the Sea, Crowning Another King of the Cretaceous
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Paleontologists have identified a new species of mosasaur named Tylosaurus rex, which could grow up to 43 feet long. This ancient marine reptile was previously misclassified and is now recognized as a distinct species due to its unique anatomical features. The discovery sheds light on the diversity of marine life during the Cretaceous period.
- ▪Tylosaurus rex is named for its size and translates to 'king of the knob lizards.'
- ▪The fossils of Tylosaurus rex were found in northern Texas and are around 80 million years old.
- ▪This new species is larger than the previously known T. proriger, which reached up to 31 feet long.
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Paleontologists Discover an Ancient Marine Reptile They’ve Dubbed the T. Rex of the Sea, Crowning Another King of the Cretaceous Scientists figured out that the predators were lumped in with a previously named mosasaur species. The new one, called Tylosaurus rex, could grow to up to 43 feet long, about the length of a school bus Margherita Bassi | Daily Correspondent May 22, 2026 5:00 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source An artistic rendering of Tylosaurus rex Alderon Games-Path of Titans Earth was a terrifying place during the Cretaceous period, some 66 million to 145 million years ago. During its tail end, Tyrannosaurus rex prowled the land. And a little before that, another kind of T.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
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