The giant sea monsters below were once the terror of marine inhabitants.
Shastasaurus – also known as the “sea lizard,” was a marine carnivore resembling modern whales. This species reached gigantic sizes, measuring up to 20 meters long, making it larger than any carnivorous animal during the Triassic period over 200 million years ago. Their diet primarily consisted of fish.
Dakosaurus was first discovered in Germany. It was one of the most terrifying marine predators of the Jurassic period, resembling modern crocodiles. It could reach lengths of up to 5 meters and had extremely sharp teeth.
Thalassomedon, also known as the “King of the Sea,” could grow up to 12 meters long, with 2-meter-long legs that allowed it to dive deep into the ocean. This species thrived during the Cretaceous period and faced extinction only with the rise of a new marine monster, the Mosasaur.
Nothosaurus was a bloodthirsty predator with extremely sharp, outward-facing teeth. This species typically ambushed its prey, mainly squid and fish. Fossil evidence indicates that this species thrived during the Triassic period, coexisting with Shastasaurus.
Tylosaurus belonged to the Mosasaur family and was very large, reaching lengths of up to 15 meters. Its diet was diverse, including fish, sharks, small mosasaurs, and even flightless birds. This species lived during the Cretaceous period in North America.
Thalattoarchon Saurophagis was recently discovered and is about the size of a bus, measuring approximately 9 meters long. It is one of the earliest species of sea lizards, primarily living during the Triassic period, around 244 million years ago. They existed shortly after the Earth suffered the Permian catastrophe. The discovery of this species has provided scientists with new insights into the rapid recovery of ecosystems.
Tanystropheus was not strictly a marine species, but its primary diet consisted of fish, and scientists agree that it spent a significant amount of time in the water. This reptile could grow up to 6 meters long and lived around 215 million years ago.
Liopleurodon was a sea lizard that grew up to 6 meters long. It primarily inhabited the waters of Europe during the Jurassic period. Its jaw could measure up to 3 meters in length, armed with massive teeth.
Mosasaurus was a gigantic sea monster. Archaeological evidence suggests that Mosasaurus could grow up to 15 meters long, making it one of the largest marine predators of the Cretaceous period. Its head resembled that of a crocodile, with hundreds of sharp teeth capable of taking down even the most well-protected foes.
Megalodon is one of the largest predatory sharks ever recorded. They lived during the third era, approximately 28 to 1.5 million years ago. It is considered a larger version of the great white shark, with lengths exceeding 20 meters.
