Mosasaur

Mosasaurs were an extinct group of large marine reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Mosasaurs were an extinct group of large marine reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous. They belonged to the squamate lineage, making them more closely related to lizards and snakes than to dinosaurs. Mosasaurs were widespread ocean predators and went extinct about 66 million years ago.

Classification

Mosasaurs are classified as extinct marine reptiles within Squamata and the family Mosasauridae. Their evolutionary relationships place them closer to lizards and snakes than to dinosaurs.

Evolution and time range

Mosasaurs first appeared in the Late Cretaceous. Fossils indicate they diversified rapidly and spread through marine environments around the world.

Anatomy and lifestyle

Mosasaurs had streamlined bodies, flipper-like limbs, and powerful tails adapted for swimming. They were fully aquatic but still had to breathe air, and evidence suggests some gave birth to live young.

Diet and ecology

Mosasaurs were carnivores and occupied top predator roles in marine ecosystems. They fed on a range of prey, including fish, ammonites, turtles, birds, and other marine animals.

Extinction

Mosasaurs disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous, around 66 million years ago, during the same mass extinction event that eliminated the non-avian dinosaurs and many other groups.