Cientistas identificam Tylosaurus rex, predador marinho gigante a partir de fósseis no Texas

23 de maio de 2026

Reportado por IA

Uma nova espécie de réptil marinho massivo, o Tylosaurus rex, foi descrita a partir de fósseis desenterrados no norte do Texas. O mosassauro de 13 metros de comprimento viveu há cerca de 80 milhões de anos e está entre os maiores de sua espécie. Os pesquisadores publicaram as descobertas em 21 de maio de 2026.

A descoberta foi liderada por cientistas do Museu Americano de História Natural, do Museu de Natureza e Ciência Perot em Dallas e da Southern Methodist University. A autora principal, Amelia Zietlow, afirmou que os fósseis haviam sido inicialmente identificados erroneamente como outra espécie, antes que comparações detalhadas revelassem características distintas, incluindo um tamanho maior e dentes finamente serrilhados. O espécime holótipo, encontrado em 1979 perto de um reservatório nos arredores de Dallas, está agora em exposição no Museu Perot.

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terça-feira, 23 de junho de 2026, 06:56h