A fossilised “sea monster” unearthed on an Arctic island is the largest marine reptile known to science, Norwegian scientists have announced.
The 150 million-year-old specimen was found on Spitspergen, in the Arctic island chain of Svalbard, in 2006. The Jurassic-era leviathan is one of 40 sea reptiles from a fossil “treasure trove” uncovered on the island.
Nicknamed “The Monster”, the immense creature would have measured 15m (50ft) from nose to tail. [BBC]
The fossil and artist illustration of the sea monster ‘in action’