VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #26
Mosasaurus dinosaur facts VR 360 video education
This is the 26th episode of our VR Jurassic Encyclopedia series, as we slowly approach the end of the entire series. On this occasion, we decided to introduce you to a special guest, coming straight from the marine environment! In today’s episode, we take a closer look at Mosasaurus dinosaur. We invite you to read the article and then to watch our new 360 video episode.
Mosasaurus was a large marine reptile that lived about 82 to 66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It is speculated that the reptile evolved from an extinct group of semi-aquatic lizards known as aigialosaurus. The genus Mosasaurus includes as many as 41 different species of varying sizes. With the extinction of the ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs, Mosasaurus became the dominant marine predator. The species became extinct in the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, about 66 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
The first Mosasaurus fossils were discovered in 1764 in a Cretaceous quarry near Maastricht in the Netherlands. A skull was found then, which was initially identified as a whale skull. Subsequently, in 1780, another skull was discovered in the same location. The skulls were not linked to Mosasaurus until 1822. In 1804, a fossilized skeleton was discovered near the Missouri River during the Lewis and Clark expedition. Interestingly, the skeleton was initially identified as a 14 meter long fish.
Typical of the species Mosasaurus Hoffmanni, it was one of the largest Mosasaurs known. It is estimated that it may have reached a maximum length of 17-18 meters. Smaller species of this reptile, such as Mosasaurus lemonnieri, measured between 7 and 10 meters in length. Staying with large specimens, there is also Mosasaurus Missouriensis, which may have measured up to 9 meters in length. It is speculated that the animal could have reached up to 14 tons in weight.
According to paleontologists, Mosasaurus was an active marine predator. The fauna likely preyed upon by this genus includes bony fish, sharks, cephalopods, birds, and marine reptiles such as other Mosasaurses and turtles. According to the findings, it is unlikely that this reptile was a scavenger, as indicated by its poor sense of smell. The animal’s robust cutting teeth and huge size, indicate that it was able to handle practically any animal.
This is the end of the interesting facts we have prepared for you in this article. If you want to know the exact structure of the dinosaur but many more amazing facts, we invite you to watch our VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #26 episode and continue our VR 360 video education about dinosaurs. To learn more about dinosaurs, be sure to visit our YouTube channel where we’ll give you more facts about dinosaurs.