NEW DELHI: A remarkably well-preserved fossil of a marine reptile has been found on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, UK, setting a Guinness world file for its completeness.Dubbed “Sea-Rex,” the fossil represents essentially the most intact Pliosaurus cranium ever discovered, with round 95% of its floor space preserved. Pliosaurs – of which the group Pliosaurus, had been among the many largest marine predators, measuring over 10 meters in size.The chew drive of the Pliosaurus, estimated between 33,000 and 48,000 Newtons, dwarfs that of the saltwater crocodile, which holds the title of at present’s heaviest reptile. The crocodile’s crushing drive peaks at 16,414 N, making it essentially the most formidable amongst dwelling animals. To place this into perspective, people usually exert a biting energy of solely 700 N.The fossilized skull unearthed from the coastal cliffs close to Kimmeridge in Dorset measures practically 2 meters (6 ft 6 inches) in size and 0.6 meters (2 ft) in width. It dates again roughly 150 million years, to a time when the area was submerged beneath tropical waters.Whereas similar-sized Pliosaurus skulls exist, the distinctive situation of this specimen distinguishes it.This discovery sheds gentle on the prehistoric marine ecosystem and presents beneficial insights into the biology and habits of those historic predators.
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