Paleontologists have identified a new species of mosasaur, named Thalassotitan atrox, which lived about 66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. The discovery was made in Morocco and published in the journal Cretaceous Research in 2022.
This marine reptile was a top predator, reaching up to 12 meters (39 feet) in length. Its skull and teeth suggest it preyed on large animals like other mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and sea turtles. The name Thalassotitan atrox means 'cruel sea giant'.
The fossils were found in the Ouled Abdoun Basin in Morocco, a region rich in Cretaceous marine fossils. The study was led by Dr. Nick Longrich from the University of Bath.
