There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Tylosaurus, Mosasaur, swimming close to Ginsu shark...
The Ginsu shark was a shark from the Early Cretaceous, 6-7 meters long, 1500-2000 kilos, like an extant big white shark although a little bit more massive. Discovered in 1843 by Louis Agassiz (Swiss scientist). Tylosaurus was one of the biggest Mosasaurus, 12-14 meters long, 10 tons.
Both were apex predators.
" Cretaceous ocean predators. The most famous was without doubt the mosasaurs, with the biggest species M. hoffmanni reached lengths up to 56 feet long. Another mosasaurs such as Tylosaurus and Hainosaurus also reached 40 to 46 feet long. Prehistoric sharks and predatory bony fish such as 26 feet long Cretoxyrhina, Squalicorax and devil fish Xiphactinus also ruled Cretaceous waters as top predators. "
The mosasaurs belong to the Squamata order which is the most important among the reptiles's:
" Mosasaurus is an extinct aquatic Squamata, the largest order of reptile which also comprising lizards and snakes. With over 10.000 species, Squamata is also the second largest order of extant vertebrates and equal in number to the Saurischia, one of two major ordo of dinosaurs. "
" The animal shown in the image is Archelon which was a Mesozoic sea turtle, I think the text is referring to Carbonemys cofrinii, which was a turtle discovered at the same site and live alongside Titanoboa during the early Paleocene. "
" Can you even imagine what this looked like when it was swimming through the ocean?
Kronosaurus is a genus of short-necked pliosaur. With an estimated length of 9 to 10.9 metres, it was among the largest pliosaurs, and is named after the leader of the Greek Titans, Cronus. It lived in the Early Cretaceous period. Length: 9 – 11 m (Adult) Lived: 145 million years ago - 99.6 million years ago (Berriasian - Albian) Tooth length: 7 – 30 cm (Adult) Scientific name: Kronosaurus (Lizard of Kronos) Phylum: Chordata Did you know: Excavation revealed a nearly complete Kronosaurus skeleton, one of the best preserved fossils to come from Colombia. "
" Vintage dinosaur painting ❤️, by Heinrich Harder "
In fact, three "old fashionned" marine reptiles of the Cretaceous period: one mosasaurus (which couldn't have a like-snake neck) and two itchthyosaurus.
Heinrich Harder, (2 June 1858 - 5 February 1935) was a German artist and an art professor, one of the first artistic depicter of the "lost world".
Archelon was perhaps the biggest marine turtle having ever lived on Earth: 4 meters long, 2 tons. Dated from the Campanien (80 millions of years) when a shallow sea recovered the major part of the Central and North America. This turtle could fastly swimming but should be one of the favourite preys of the big mosasaurus...
