In Morocco, an extraordinary scientific revelation is captivating the attention of researchers worldwide. Startlingly, scientists have unearthed a fossilized mosasaur possessing teeth resembling a “bizarre screwdriver teeth .” This momentous finding, recently announced by the University of Bath, revolves around a marine lizard that dwelled in the ancient seas.
Expressing astonishment at the discovery, Mick Longich from the Milner Center for Evolution described it as nothing short of a “surprise.” He elaborated by stating that the specimen stands apart from any known mosasaur, reptile, or even vertebrate ever encountered. The University emphasized the unparalleled nature of this finding, emphasizing that it suggests a rapid evolutionary trajectory for mosasaurs and other marine reptiles up until 66 million years ago.
Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable discovery:
- The newfound species, named Stelladens mysterious, originates from the Late Cretaceous era in Morocco.
- It measured approximately twice the size of a dolphin, unveiling the immense scale of this marine lizard.
- What sets it apart are the teeth, which exhibit blade-like ridges running along them, a unique arrangement unlike any previously observed.
- Scientists and experts, including marine reptile specialist Nathalie Bardet from the Museum of Natural History in Paris, expressed their amazement and astonishment at the finding.
- Bardet, who has worked on Moroccan reptiles for over 20 years, admitted that she had never encountered anything remotely similar, leaving her both perplexed and amazed.
This extraordinary discovery adds to Morocco’s rich fossil heritage, joining the ranks of several significant findings in recent years. In April, scientists uncovered the first-ever sturgeon fossil in Africa, believed to be over 66 million years old.
