Recently, scientists have discovered a new prehistoric animal belonging to the genus Mosasaur, named Ectenosaurus everhartorum, with its fossil found in western Kansas, USA.
This new species is identified to have lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 million years ago. They inhabited a shallow sea that divided the North American continent into two distinct regions known as the Western Internal Seaway.
Close-up of the newly announced giant marine creature.
The scientists named the species Ectenosaurus everhartorum. It measures about 5.5 meters in length, with a head resembling that of modern crocodiles. However, its tail is significantly longer.
The first fossil was discovered in the 1970s in Logan County, western Kansas. It wasn’t until recently that additional parts were found and officially published.
This animal has also surprised many scientists because very few specimens have been found compared to other species in the same genus. This scarcity has made research quite challenging.
Ongoing studies are being conducted with the hope of uncovering more information about this fascinating animal.
