Tylosaurus, original watercolor art

The Tylosaurus was a dominant marine reptile that ruled the oceans during the Late Cretaceous period. As a member of the mosasaur family, it wasn't a dinosaur but a close relative of modern-day monitor lizards and snakes. It was a massive apex predator, with some species reaching lengths of over 13 meters (43 feet).

Its body was perfectly adapted for life in the water, featuring a long, powerful tail for propulsion and four paddle-like flippers for steering. Its skull was particularly formidable, equipped with rows of sharp, conical teeth and a second set of teeth on the roof of its mouth (pterygoid teeth) to ensure that once prey was gripped, it couldn't escape.

A fun fact about the Tylosaurus is its "battering ram" snout. Unlike some other mosasaurs, the tip of its snout was long, rounded, and reinforced with solid bone that extended beyond its front teeth. Paleontologists believe the Tylosaurus used this hardened snout to ram into prey or rivals at high speeds, stunning them or causing massive internal damage before moving in for the final bite.