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Mosasaur
(MOES-ah-SAWR)
Mosasaurs were giant, serpentine (snake-like) marine reptiles. They were not dinosaurs, but were air breathing, carnivores (meat-eaters) reptiles, related to snakes and monitor lizards. Mosasaurs were powerful swimmers, that adapted to living in shallow seas having a long, streamlined body, broad webbed paddles, a strong flattened tail and powerful jaws with many sharp teeth. They were a short-lived line of reptiles that went extinct during the K-T extinction, 65 million years ago. The name Mosasaur means Meuse lizard, they were named for the Meuse river in Holland, near the underground limestone mine where Mosasaur fossils were first found by Dr. C. K. Hoffman around 1770 to 1780. Mosasaurs are distinguished as one of the first fossils to attract public attention, which resulted in a huge custody battle and involved more than one country. The discovery of mosasaurs occurred before the first official excavation of dinosaurs by more than 50 years. After the landowner won a court case against Hoffman, the fossil was eventually ransomed for 600 bottles of wine to an invading French army and found its home in France. This specimen was eventually named Mosasaurus hoffmanni in honor of its original discoverer.
THE MOSASAUR GENUS TYLOSAURUS
(TIE-low-SAWR-us) Tylosaurus (meaning "swollen lizard") was a mosasaur that was from 33-40 feet long and had long, sharp teeth. Fossils have been found in America (Kansas) and New Zealand.
THE MOSASAUR GENUS HAINOSAURUS
Hainosaurus was a huge mosasaur that was about 50 feet long. This is the largest mosasaur yet found. Fossils have been found in Europe.
THE MOSASAUR GENUS PLATECARPUS
Platecarpus was a mosasaur that averaged about 14 feet long (the biggest ones are 24 feet (8 m) long). Platecarpus swam by moving the long tail and used the short flippers to steer. Fossils have been found in Europe.
THE MOSASAUR GENUS PLOTOSAURUS
(PLOAT-oh-SAWR-us) Plotosaurus was a mosasaur that was about 33 feet (10 m) long. They had four flippers and a tail that ended in a fin. Fossils have been found in North America.
Common misspellings: Mosisaur, Mosesaur, Mosasor, Mosasuar, Mosasore, Mosasorus
Mosasaur skeleton
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