Forskare identifierar gigantiskt Tylosaurus rex-havsrovdjur från fossiler i Texas

23 maj 2026

Rapporterad av AI

En ny art av massivt marint kräldjur, Tylosaurus rex, har beskrivits utifrån fossiler som grävts fram i norra Texas. Den 13 meter långa mosasaurien levde för cirka 80 miljoner år sedan och rankas som en av de största i sitt slag. Forskare publicerade resultaten den 21 maj 2026.

Upptäckten leddes av forskare vid American Museum of Natural History, Perot Museum of Nature and Science i Dallas samt Southern Methodist University. Huvudförfattaren Amelia Zietlow uppgav att fossilerna ursprungligen hade felidentifierats som en annan art innan detaljerade jämförelser avslöjade distinkta drag, däribland en större storlek och fint sågtandade tänder. Holotypspecimentet, som hittades 1979 nära en reservoar utanför Dallas, finns nu utställt på Perot Museum.

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