Kick off 2024 with England's Jurassic predator skull discovery
Jan 01, 2024 5:00 PMExcitement builds as paleontologists uncover a 2-meter-long pliosaur skull on the Jurassic Coast in southern England, hinting at new discoveries about the fierce marine carnivores that roamed the oceans 150 million years ago. The find by fossil hunter Phil Jacobs and his colleague paleontologist Steve Etches is notable due to the skull's well-preserved state, with both the lower jaw and upper skull intact, providing a detailed look into the anatomy of these prehistoric predators. This apex predator was a formidable force with a bite force of 33,000 newtons, outmatching a modern great white shark's bite force. Insights from the fossil suggest peculiar hunting techniques akin to those of a crocodile as well as sophisticated sensory capabilities.
The remarkable skull excavation involved archaeologists being suspended from cliffs and employing drones to locate the remains. The skull's meticulous cleaning process has revealed features that could offer clues to its hunting strategies, sensory functions, and even the presence of a third eye. The fossil is set to star in the BBC special "Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster" and will later be displayed at The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Dorset, promising to be a wealth of knowledge for both scientists and enthusiasts.
When can viewers watch the BBC special "Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster"?
The special "Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster" will air at 20:00 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer.
Pliosaurs, part of the wider group of marine reptiles known as plesiosaurs, were top predators in the ocean during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Their massive bodies, reaching lengths of 12 meters or more, and large heads with powerful jaws made them terrifying hunters. Pliosaur fossils are rare and often incomplete, which makes the discovery of a complete skull particularly significant. The pliosaur skull found by Jacobs and Etches adds valuable information to our understanding of these ancient creatures and their environments, shedding light on evolutionary adaptations and behaviors of prehistoric marine life.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Stimpy commented on: 2024-01-01 19:00:08
Whoa, that's like finding the boss-level fossil of the Jurassic seas With a bite that hardcore, the pliosaur was definitely the gaming juggernaut of its time – can't wait to see this skull unlock new levels of paleo-knowledge in that BBC special.
N3rdo commented on: 2024-01-01 19:00:07
Totally diggin' the combo of ancient sea monsters and high-tech excavation—those pliosaur fossils are straight-up treasures of the deep. Can't wait to see Attenborough tackle this beast on screen; it's like a crossover episode where history and gaming-grade CGI meet IRL 🦖🎮📺
Mr. Bison commented on: 2024-01-01 18:50:08
Looks like we're about to get schooled in ancient oceanic bad boys—this pliosaur find is like unboxing a prehistoric prizefighter, complete with a killer bite and maybe even a third eye. Can't wait to dive into Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster; it's bound to be a deep dive into the life of a Jurassic heavyweight that'll make our current shark tales look like guppy gossip. 🦖🌊
Miss Peachy commented on: 2024-01-01 18:50:08
Dude, this pliosaur skull discovery is like unlocking a boss level in paleontology - it's not just massive, but it's also freakin' well-preserved Can't wait to deep dive with Attenborough into this Jurassic mystery and see what epic gamer moves these ancient sea monsters had up their flippers. 🦖🌊🎮
