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A large new mosasaur from the Upper Cretaceous of The Netherlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

Rudi W. Dortangs ,
Anne S. Schulp ,
Eric W.A. Mulder ,
John W.M. Jagt ,
Hans H.G. Peeters  and
Douwe Th. de Graaf
Rudi W. Dortangs
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, PO Box 882, NL 6200 AW Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Anne S. Schulp*
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, PO Box 882, NL 6200 AW Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Eric W.A. Mulder
Affiliation:
Museum Natura Docet, Oldenzaalsestraat 39, NL 7591 GL Denekamp, The Netherlands.
John W.M. Jagt
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, PO Box 882, NL 6200 AW Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Hans H.G. Peeters
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, PO Box 882, NL 6200 AW Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Douwe Th. de Graaf
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, PO Box 882, NL 6200 AW Maastricht, The Netherlands.
*
2corresponding author; e-mail:[email protected]
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Abstract

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We report the discovery of a new species of marine reptile, a mosasaur, from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of The Netherlands. Prognathodon saturator sp. nov. is represented by an almost complete skull and much of the postcranial skeleton, and is one of the largest mosasaurs discovered to date. The stout skull and extremely massive jaws are more powerfully built than in any other known mosasaur. Bite marks, the partial disarticulation and scattering of the skeleton, and the presence of associated teeth of Squalicorax and Plicatoscyllium suggest extensive scavenging by sharks.

Keywords

MosasaursPrognathodonMaastrichtianUpper CretaceousThe Netherlands
Type
Regular Papers
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 81 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 1 - 8
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2002

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