This Was Bigger Than a Sperm Whale...

A newly described marine reptile from 202 million years ago may be the largest animal to ever swim in our oceans. Researchers analyzing fragments of a massive jawbone found off the coast of England have identified a creature that challenges our current understanding of prehistoric giants. By comparing these specimens to modern sperm whales and fossilized ichthyosaurs, scientists are piecing together the scale of an animal that likely dominated the Triassic seas. The findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, suggest this specimen reached lengths of 25 meters. We examine the specific anatomical evidence recovered from the site and how researchers used these fossilized bones to differentiate this massive marine reptile from other known species. Subscribe for weekly natural history breakdowns, and comment below on which prehistoric mystery you want us to examine next.