Reptile · GBIF taxon 8661110
Mosasaurus hoffmannii
Mosasaurus hoffmanniiAlso known as Hoffmann's Mosasaur
Mosasaurus hoffmannii ruled Late Cretaceous oceans as a massive, air-breathing apex predator propelled through open waters by an undulating, paddle-fluked tail. Its jaws were lined with heavy, conical teeth backed by an extra row on the palate, allowing it to seize and crush armored marine life. Like modern sea snakes and cetaceans, it gave live birth in the open ocean rather than returning to land to lay eggs.
PrehistoricMarine ReptileApex Predator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Marine turtles
- Ammonites
- Large bony fish
ThreatsCretaceous-Paleogene extinction event
HabitatsWarm, shallow epicontinental seas and open pelagic waters
Life spanEstimated 20–30 years
Classification
- FamilyMosasauridae
- GenusMosasaurus
- SpeciesMosasaurus hoffmannii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Extinct species; known exclusively from fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Viewing: Observe articulated skeletons and massive skull casts in natural history museums.
- Skeletal Identification: Look for a double hinge in the lower jaw and distinct pterygoid teeth on the roof of the mouth.
Competitor User:A,Ocram / Public domain · cc0
Prey Metalerke / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Ghedoghedo / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
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