Extinct Sea Monster Resembling a 'Dragon Skull' Unearthed in the UK

A sea monster, that resembles a "dragon skull" and has been extinct for millions of years, was unearthed in the United Kingdom, according to reports this week.

The specimen belonged to an ancient marine reptile called a pliosaur, which once roamed and terrorized the oceans approximately 150 million years ago. The ancient sea creature was found on the cliffs of Dorset's Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile-long coastline in southern England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its paleontological value.

Not classified as dinosaurs, pliosaurs were aquatic carnivorous reptiles that lived between 220 and 70 million years ago. These marine reptiles are known for their large heads and long bodies, making them the "ultimate killing machine" as described by multiple reports.

The ferocious sea titan went extinct before the dinosaurs by the end of the Cretaceous period. The leading theory behind their extinction is linked to the disappearance of most plankton species and their plankton-eating fish prey.

Sea Monster Unearthed in UK

(Photo : Free to use under the Unsplash License)

The dragon-like skull of the sea monster found in the UK is 2 meters long (6 feet, 5 inches). It is also one of the most complete specimens of its type ever discovered. With a missing body, the fossil of the pliosaur's skull is the only specimen extracted from the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. However, the skull will be featured on a special program by David Attenborough on BBC One this coming New Year's Day.

The extracted skull of the ancient ocean predator has "dagger-like teeth" and was discovered in the spring of 2022 by artist and fossil hunter Philip Jacobs, who was walking along the Jurassic Coast at that time when he noticed a snout in the cliff. The well-preserved quality of the skull confirms the prevailing evidence that the pliosaur is Earth's largest carnivorous reptile to ever live.

A local paleontologist, Steve Etches, who has been collecting fossils for over 40 years and was involved in the skull's excavation, stated that the specimen is complete and there is no other specimen anywhere else to match it. Furthermore, the size of the skull also confirms how colossal the creature is. With this, Etches is reportedly seeking the rest of the animal's body.

Also Read: Mysterious Hairy Sea Monster Washed Ashore in Oregon Beach Finally Identified

What is Pliosauroidea?

Pliosauroidea is an extinct clade of plesiosaurs, existing from the early Jurassic period to the early Late Cretaceous period. Paleontological evidence suggests that pliosaurus swam very quickly before dominating and killing their prey using their strong bite force.

Pliosaurs once hunted in the shallow seas of Europe and South America and were also known for even consuming their long-neck cousins, the Plesiosaurus. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports on October 16, researchers discovered fossils of the ancient marine reptile dating back to 170 million years ago from the Age of Dinosaurs and are identified as the oldest-known mega-predatory pliosaur.