Researchers have classified a new species of enormous prehistoric marine reptile named Tylosaurus rex. This ocean predator lived about 80 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period and matched the size and dominance of Tyrannosaurus rex. It inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, an ancient sea that split North America. The species was identified through a broad analysis of mosasaur fossils. The study, issued in the American Museum of Natural History bulletin, noted unique traits including serrated teeth for cutting flesh, strong jaw and neck muscles, and a large body suited for open-water hunting.
