Giant mosasaur discovered in Mississippi 🦕

A giant vertebrate discovered in the state of Mississippi in the United States may belong to the largest mosasaur ever found in the state. This discovery intrigues scientists due to its exceptional size.


Researchers have uncovered a single vertebra of this marine reptile, making it difficult to estimate its total size. However, they believe the animal measured at least 30 feet (9 meters) long. This find was reported by the Hattiesburg American, highlighting its importance for local paleontology.

Mosasaurs, nicknamed 'sea dragons,' dominated the oceans during the time when dinosaurs ruled the land. The discovered fossil belongs to Mosasaurus hoffmanni, one of the largest species of these marine reptiles. This discovery provides new insights into the marine biodiversity of the Cretaceous period.

Geologist James Starnes spotted the fossil in a riverbed near Starkville. Along with his colleague Jonathan Leard, they carefully extracted the vertebra.

Mosasaurs were a diverse group of marine reptiles, with some species reaching up to 50 feet (15 meters) in length. The discovered vertebra, measuring over 7 inches (18 cm) wide, suggests this mosasaur was among the largest ever recorded in Mississippi. This find could rewrite part of the state's paleontological history.

M. hoffmanni was an apex predator, feeding on fish, sharks, and even other mosasaurs. The environment of what is now Mississippi, during the late Cretaceous, offered an abundance of prey for these sea giants. Starnes describes a region then covered by a tropical sea teeming with rich and varied marine life.


This mosasaur species went extinct 66 million years ago, a victim of the Chicxulub asteroid. The impact caused the collapse of marine ecosystems, ending the reign of these predators.

What is a mosasaur?

Mosasaurs were giant marine reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs. They belonged to the order Squamata, making them relatives of modern lizards and snakes.

These creatures dominated the oceans of the Cretaceous, between 145 and 66 million years ago. Their size ranged from a few meters to over 50 feet (15 meters) for the largest species, such as Mosasaurus hoffmanni.

Mosasaurs were efficient predators, equipped with powerful jaws and conical teeth. Their diet included fish, sharks, and even other mosasaurs, as evidenced by fossils found in fossilized stomachs.

Their extinction is linked to the Chicxulub asteroid impact, which disrupted marine ecosystems. This disappearance marks the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of a new era for life on Earth.