A newly found fossil of a marine lizard with sharp teeth is providing scientists with valuable insights into life at the end of the dinosaur era. Named Khinjaria acuta, this fierce predator lived in the waters off modern-day Morocco around 66 million years ago. Its remains reveal a diverse ocean filled with large hunters, vastly different from today’s seas.
The study describes Khinjaria acuta as belonging to the Mosasauridae family, which includes large marine lizards related to Komodo dragons and snakes. These reptiles thrived in the Late Cretaceous period while dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops roamed the land.
The recovered fossil, including a skull and parts of the skeleton, was found in a phosphate mine southeast of Casablanca. Researchers from various institutions collaborated on this study, including the University of Bath and the Marrakech Museum of Natural History.
The skull of Khinjaria acuta is notable for its powerful snout and long, dagger-like teeth, ideal for grabbing prey. Unlike other mosasaurs known in the area, which had teeth for crushing or slicing, Khinjaria had teeth specialised for piercing, revealing new details about these ancient predators.
This discovery highlights the rich ecosystem of the Late Cretaceous era, which included multiple species of giant predators, as stated by Dr. Nick Longrich from the University of Bath. Interestingly, modern oceans host far fewer apex predators than those observed in the past. The fossil evidence also sheds light on the unique marine environment that supported such biodiversity in Morocco.
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