Prehistoric discovery: Graphics unravel the mystery of the massive sea-dwelling pliosaur

A giant skull of a prehistoric sea predator has been unearthed by a team of fossil hunters in the UK, the BBC reported. The more than 6-foot-long skull belongs to a pliosaur, a marine reptile that lived in the ocean about 150 million years ago.

The massive remains were some of the best-preserved ever found, paleontologist Steve Etches told the BBC. "The lower jaw and the upper skull are meshed together, as they would be in life."

How big was the pliosaur?

The pliosaur could grow up to 39 feet and had a tear-shaped body. It had four flipper-like limbs that made it agile and quick as it tore through the water after its prey. It had lungs for breathing air and a massive head with a powerful jaw and serrated teeth. Some scientists say pliosaurs may have been a tyrannosaurus rex of the sea.

How it compares with other creatures:

The large mouth of the pliosaur likely had a bite force of 33,000 newtons, an international unit of measure for force, University of Bristol paleobiologist Emily Rayfield told the BBC. That's nearly as strong as the force of 45,000 newtons held by the tyrannosaurus rex. Humans have 700 newtons of force.

The carnivorous marine creatures were not dinosaurs but reptiles. Scientist believe the pliosaur would have eaten other reptiles such as its cousin, the plesiosaur, and the dolphin-like ichthyosaur. It might have even feasted on other passing pliosaurs.

About the discovered pliosaur skull

The skull was spotted in spring 2022 near Kimmeridge Bay on southern England's famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

The excavation was conducted on ropes high above Dorset beach because the remains are inside crumbling cliffs that once were the seafloor.

The skull and excavation process will be featured in a special with David Attenborough on BBC One on New Year's Day.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Paste BN