Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
238 / Mesozoic
Tylosaurus
Tylosaurus proriger
A solid snout projected beyond the teeth as this giant mosasaur hunted fish, turtles and other reptiles.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 89–75 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Cretaceous
- Geographic range
- Western Interior Seaway · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Tylosaurus?
Tylosaurus (Tylosaurus proriger) was an extinct organism known from About 89–75 million years ago, with a range in Western Interior Seaway · North America.
Life and ecology
Tylosaurus swam with a strong tail and fluke while four flippers steered. Its jaws handled large prey but did not completely dislocate like a snake's.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Tylosaurus disappear?
Its record ends about 75 million years ago. Mosasaurs as a group vanished in the end-Cretaceous crisis, but this genus is not known to have survived to that event.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Tylosaurus?
Skulls, skeletons, skin impressions and stomach contents record tail form, scales and a broad diet.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Removed an extinction cause that credited a mass extinction occurring after this species' last dated record.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS