Giant skull of a ‘sea monster’ pliosaur discovered on the UK’s Jurassic Coast

The skull of a massive pliosaur, an ancient marine reptile that ruled the oceans about 150 million years ago, has been unearthed from the cliffs of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. according to BBCThe two-metre-long fossil is one of the most complete specimens of its kind ever discovered. The scientific community hopes the specimen will provide invaluable insights into the behavior and physiology of the ferocious predator.

The skull itself is longer than most humans, so one can imagine how massive this creature was. This predator was an apex of the ocean, and its front teeth were long, sharp, and capable of delivering a deadly bite. The ridges on the back of its teeth helped it slice through meat, making it an effective hunter. According to guardianThe pliosaur’s skull survives with dozens of sharp teeth with which it tore through the flesh of its victims, including ichthyosaurs.

Fossil evidence even suggests that pliosaurs, including this newly discovered specimen, preyed on other pliosaurs.

“It’s one of the best fossils I’ve ever worked on,” paleontologist Steve Etches said. “What makes it unique is that it’s complete.” BBC News.

”The lower jaw and upper skull are fused together, as they would be in life. Worldwide, rarely have any specimens been found with this level of detail. He added: “If it was, a lot of parts are missing, whereas this one, although slightly deformed, contains all the bones.”

The complex and dangerous process of extracting the giant fossilized skull will be featured in a David Attenborough documentary on the BBC on New Year’s Day.

“The animal would have been so large that I think it would have been able to prey on anything unfortunate enough to be in its place,” said Dr Andre Roux from the University of Bristol.

”I have no doubt that this was like diving underwater t rex,” he added.

It all started when palaeontologist friend Steve Etches and fellow fossil enthusiast Phil Jacobs came across the tip of a pliosaur’s snout while walking along the beach near Kimmeridge Bay on the World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast of southern England. They took the fossil part to safety on a makeshift stretcher. Months were spent meticulously cleaning and examining the skull.

Mr Etches believes more parts of the creature lie in the Dorset cliffs.

”I’m risking my life and the rest of the animal out there. And it really has to come out because it’s in an environment that corrodes very quickly. This part of the shelf line is moving back about a foot per year. It won’t be long before the rest of the pliosaur falls and is lost. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.