Move over, Tyrannosaurus Rex! The world of paleontology has a new record holder, and it’s a monstrous denizen of the deep: a big pliosaur. This Jurassic sea monster skull, which originates in England amongst the world-renowned Jurassic Coast, has just become the officially recognized “most complete” skull of its kind – by Guinness World Records.
The magnificent skull with a length of 2 meters (6 feet) was initially discovered by a keen paleontologist called Philip Jacobs. The discovery had happened in the year 2022. However, its venue – a sea cliff located in Dorset – creates a unique but difficult setting. This precious relic was dug out not by a solitary paleontologist like in the previous movies, but by a team of Egyptologists who had to be suspended from ropes. This showed how much determination the modern-day paleontologists have in their search for knowledge.
This pliosaur’s story doesn’t halt at its diggings. The BBC, led by Sir David Attenborough among many others, recorded the process during the excavation in a spectacular documentary which was aired on the 1st day of 2024. This program illustrates in detail Pliosaurus’ story that will lure the general public who have a growing interest in these ancient sea predators.
However, this is what stands out in this specimen of the pliosaur most is its extraordinary degree of completeness. Based on Guinness World Records, the pliosaur skull is “95% complete by surface area”. There is no other way to examine pliosaur anatomy which makes scientists define pliosaurs as the group of marine reptiles which rules the seas during the Jurassic period.
The valuable and scientific data unveiled by the skull’s details is priceless. For the first time, parts of this genus of pliosaurs, considered invisible before this moment, are now showing, opening the door to a more exact reconstruction of these animals. The discovery of this species may bring a new perspective on how they used to hunt, their dietary preferences, and their contribution to the ancient marine environment.
The pliosaur skull can now be seen in the exhibit of the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge, England. Such a place is both an awe-inspiring scientific exploration and a public undertaking. Viewers can admire the giant and sophisticated skull and even get a glimpse of the mighty creatures of prehistoric times.
