New species of mosasaur discovered

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A new species of an ancient marine reptile evolved to strike terror into the hearts of the normally safe, fast-swimming fish has been identified by a team of University of Alberta researchers, shedding light on what it took to survive in highly competitive ecosystems.

Gavialimimus almaghribensis, a new type of mosasaur, was catalogued and named by an international research team led by master’s student Catie Strong, who performed the research a year ago as part of an undergrad honours thesis guided by vertebrate paleontologist Michael Caldwell, professor in the Faculty of Science, along with collaborators from the University of Cincinnati and Flinders University.

What differentiates Strong’s version is that it features a long, narrow snout and interlocking teeth—similar to the crocodilian gharials, a relative of crocodiles and alligators.

Strong explained there is evidence that each species of the giant marine lizard shows adaptations for different prey items or styles of predation.

Sources: 1, 2