Where was the skull discovered?
The skull of a really big sea monster was found on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, England, in the United Kingdom (UK). It belonged to a Pliosaur, a sea animal that lived around 150 million years ago. The fossil is 2 meters (6 feet 5 inches) long.
This discovery will help scientists learn new things about this ancient animal. Pliosaurs lived from 200 million to 65.5 million years ago and could grow over 40 feet long. They had big jaws, large flippers, and sharp teeth and were really good at hunting. Scientists believe that this accidentally discovered skull will help them learn more about the seas during that time.
How was the skull discovered?
In 2022, someone was walking along the Jurassic Coast and found a snout about two feet long with teeth. It looked like it was from a Pliosaur. When a group went back to check, they saw that the snout had fallen from a cliff, but the rest of the skull was still stuck in the cliff.
The team worked really hard to get it out. An expert thinks the rest of the Pliosaur might be inside the cliff, and they plan to dig it up someday. A documentary will show the fossil, how it was dug up, and the ongoing scientific work. The documentary will be presented by famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
What is the Jurassic Coast?
The Jurassic Coast is England's only natural World Heritage Site and is 95 miles (152 km) long. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. It was added because the location has amazing rocks, fossils, and landforms.
The rocks and fossils on the Jurassic Coast tell us about Earth's history spanning 185 million years! Many specimens have also been discovered in this region.
