Ancient Reptile Remains Found

from MyWay News

Researchers on Thursday announced the discovery of the remains of a short-necked plesiosaur, a prehistoric marine reptile the size of a bus, that they believe is the first complete skeleton ever found. The 150 million year old remains of the 33-foot ocean going predator were found in August on the remote Svalbard Islands of the Arctic, the University of Oslo announced.

Fragments of plesiosaur have been found elsewhere, including in England, Russia, and Argentina, but researcher Joern Harald Hurum said the partially fossilized Svalbard find appeared to be the first whole example.

The voracious plesiosaurs were like the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the oceans, expect its head is much bigger. About 6.5 feet long, compared to about 5.25 feet for Tyrannosaurus Rex. The reptile was as long as a bus, with teeth larger than cucumbers in a head that could swallow an adult human whole.