A giant pliosaur skull has been discovered on the rocks of Dorset's Jurassic Coast
A colossal fossilized skull of a sea monster believed to be a Pliosaur has been unearthed on England's Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
Measuring nearly seven feet in length, this impressive discovery offers insights into the ancient marine reptile that once roamed the seas around 150 million years ago.
New inspiration for BBC's upcoming documentary project
The awe-inspiring ancient creature, recognized as the 'apex predator of the ocean,' will take center stage in an upcoming BBC documentary hosted by David Attenborough.
Accompanied by a team of scientists and paleontologists, they will delve into the excavation and restoration process of this extraordinary find, potentially unveiling a new species of pliosaur.
Renowned for its ability to swiftly navigate the ocean and deliver lethal strikes with a single bite, the ancient pliosaur was truly the epitome of an ultimate killing machine.
Watching the video:
The colossal pliosaur skull has an impressive array of approximately 130 long and razor-sharp teeth
These formidable teeth are equipped with fine ridges at the back, enabling the creature to puncture the flesh of its prey and prepare for a rapid follow-up attack.
According to scientists, the pliosaur's diet consisted of dolphin-like creatures and other pliosaurs.
Notably, pliosaurs possessed jaws that were over twice or more powerful than those of today's saltwater crocodiles, further emphasizing their status as formidable apex predators of their time.
"The animal would have been so massive that I think it would have been able to prey effectively on anything unfortunate enough to be in its space," Andre Rowe, a palaeobiologist from Bristol University, told BBC News.
These impressive creatures reached lengths of 32 to 39 feet, utilizing their four robust flipper-like limbs to propel themselves swiftly through the water.
Their strong and agile swimming abilities allowed them to navigate their marine environment with ease, making them even more formidable as apex predators.
"I do not doubt that this was sort of like an underwater T-Rex," Rowe said.
Passionate fossil enthusiast Phil Jacobs made a thrilling discovery while walking along Kimmeridge Bay's rocky shores last year.
During one morning, he stumbled upon the jaw of a massive pliosaur, sparking excitement and curiosity.
Kimmeridge Bay is renowned for its rich fossil deposits, hosting numerous significant geological discoveries along the Jurassic Coast.
Dr. Steve Etches MBE, a respected figure in the field, has dedicated over three decades to amassing a collection of more than 2,000 specimens from the area.
Given his expertise, Mr. Etches was called upon to assess the discovery and speculated that the remaining parts of the pliosaur's skull could potentially be encased within the cliff above.
Experienced fossil hunters consider this fossil their greatest discovery to date.
Phil Jacobs assembled a team of experts, including fellow fossil hunter Chris Moore, who operates a family fossil business in Charmouth, to excavate the remaining parts of the fossil.
Despite their extensive experience working together for many years, they consider this discovery to be the most significant and challenging they have encountered.
Dr. Etches said, "There's nothing comparable to it today.
"It's a big carnivorous reptile and one of the largest that ever lived in the sea. It's even bigger than a T-Rex; these are larger and more ferocious."
Fossils recovered for the detailed Pliosaur documentary project
Once the skull was carefully removed, it was transported to Mr. Etches' nearby workshop, where the restoration process commenced.
The restoration work spanned several months, during which intricate tasks were undertaken. This included creating replicas of the pliosaur's tooth crowns using the remains of an iconic trihedral-shaped tooth discovered by Mr. Moore on the cliff.
With the collaboration of paleobiologists, the documentary will employ visual effects sequences and digital scans to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the pliosaur's appearance, movement, and hunting techniques.
