# Mosasaurus (*Mosasaurus hoffmannii*)

Mosasaurus was a powerful marine reptile that swam the ancient seas using flippers and a streamlined body.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic oceans and coastal waters
- **Also known as:** Mosasaur

![Mosasaurus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mosasaurus_21copy.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Dmitry Bogdanov, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mosasaurus_21copy.jpg)

## Appearance

The Mosasaurus had a long, streamlined body resembling a giant, powerful lizard with four paddle-like flippers. Its massive skull featured sharp, conical teeth for gripping prey, and a large, paddle-shaped tail propelled it through ancient seas.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Its closest living relatives are surprisingly snakes and monitor lizards!
- Mosasaurus was an apex predator, ruling the oceans during the Late Cretaceous period.
- Some fossils show bite marks from other Mosasaurus, suggesting intense fights!
- This creature lived at the same time as the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex on land!

## Special abilities

- **Jaw Unhinge Power:** Mosasaurus can unhinge its powerful jaws to swallow very large prey whole, helping them consume big meals.
- **Double Tooth Grip:** Mosasaurus had an extra row of teeth in its upper palate that helped it grip slippery prey, ensuring no escape.
- **Super Sea Speed:** Mosasaurus used its mighty, paddle-shaped tail and four powerful flippers to propel itself through water with impressive speed.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 10-17 m
- **Weight:** 10000-20000 kg
- **Era:** Late Cretaceous Period
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 66

## Diet & Feeding

This ancient ocean hunter ate a diverse menu of fish, sharks, ammonites, and even other marine reptiles!

- **Primary Foods:** Fish, Ammonites, Sharks, Plesiosaurs, Sea Turtles, Squids
- **Foraging Method:** Pursuit

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Giant Ammonite (*Pachydiscus seppenradensis*) — Mosasaurus crushed shells to eat these mollusks.
- **Eats:** Crow Shark (*Squalicorax pristodontulus*) — Often preyed upon by larger marine predators.
- **Hunts:** [Elasmosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elasmosaurus) (*Elasmosaurus platyurus*) — Mosasaurus was a dominant hunter of other large marine reptiles.
- **Hunts:** Archelon (*Archelon ischyros*) — Mosasaurus's strong jaws could crush turtle shells.

## Traits

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mosasaurus?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Mosasaurus?

10-17 m

### How much does Mosasaurus weigh?

10000-20000 kg

### What does Mosasaurus eat?

This ancient ocean hunter ate a diverse menu of fish, sharks, ammonites, and even other marine reptiles!

### Where is Mosasaurus usually found?

Mesozoic oceans and coastal waters

### How does Mosasaurus hunt?

Pursuit

### What geologic era did Mosasaurus live in?

Late Cretaceous Period

### When did Mosasaurus go extinct?

66

## Where to spot

- [Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mystic-aquarium-and-institute-for-exploration) — Connecticut, US · Aquarium

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

---

Source: [Mosasaurus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mosasaurus)