Khinjaria Acuta: The Deadly Marine Lizard that Lived with Dinosaurs

Friday - March 22 2024, 16:00 UTC - 8 months ago

Paleontologists have discovered a new species of marine lizard, Khinjaria acuta, that lived 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period. This deadly predator was part of a diverse ecosystem of top predators that existed alongside dinosaurs. This ecosystem was dramatically different from modern marine food chains, with numerous giant top predators specialized in different hunting strategies. However, this diversity was short-lived and disappeared after an asteroid struck the Earth, leading to the extinction of most species and the emergence of a new ocean ecosystem.

A team of paleontologists has made an exciting discovery in Morocco, a strange new species of marine lizard named Khinjaria acuta. This deadly predator lived in the Atlantic Ocean 66 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period, alongside the iconic dinosaurs Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.

Khinjaria was a member of the family Mosasauridae, which were not dinosaurs but enormous marine lizards. These creatures were distant relatives of the Komodo dragon and anaconda. However, Khinjaria's appearance would have been much more terrifying, with powerful jaws and long, dagger-like teeth for catching its prey.

The study was led by Dr. Nick Longrich from the University of Bath, along with researchers from institutions in the UK, France, USA, and Spain. They based their findings on a skull and partial skeleton that were unearthed in a phosphate mine southeast of Casablanca.

One of the most interesting aspects of this discovery is the diversity of top predators that existed in the Late Cretaceous oceans. Alongside Khinjaria, there were multiple species that grew even larger than the infamous great white shark. These different species had unique teeth that were specialized for different hunting strategies.

While some mosasaurs had sharp teeth for piercing, others had teeth for cutting, tearing, or crushing their food. And then there was Khinjaria, with its short, powerful jaws and large, dagger-like teeth that were perfect for seizing and holding onto prey. The variety of top predators in this ancient marine ecosystem is unlike anything we see in modern oceans.

However, this diverse and deadly ecosystem was short-lived. Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, causing catastrophic changes to the Earth's environment. The dust and particles ejected into the atmosphere blocked out the sun, causing a period of darkness and cooling that led to the extinction of most species on the planet.

The impact wiped out the dinosaurs and many other marine and land creatures, opening up opportunities for new species to evolve and take their place. In the oceans, this meant the disappearance of mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and giant sea turtles. Whales, seals, and fish like swordfish and tuna appeared in their absence. But the ecosystem that emerged after the impact was vastly different from the one before it.

Today, modern marine food chains are dominated by just a few top predators, such as great white sharks, orcas, and leopard seals. But during the time of the dinosaurs, there was a staggering array of giant top predators in the oceans, each with their own unique hunting strategies. Thanks to the discovery of Khinjaria, we now have a better understanding of the diverse and complex marine ecosystems that existed millions of years ago.